Legislation Introduced to Protect National Landscape Conservation System
Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM) introduces legislation; ASLA signs on to letter in support of funding for NLCS.

Senate Bill 1139 would make the Bureau of Land Management’s National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) a permanent entity. The NLCS is a 26-million-acre network of National Monuments, wilderness areas, scenic rivers and trails, and historic sites that provide a uniquely American experience. The bill was introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with Senators Ken Salazar (D-CO), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as original cosponsors.

But unlike the National Parks and the National Wildlife Refuges, there currently is no guarantee that the NLCS will be around five years from now. These extraordinary places are being ruined by vandalism, reckless off-road vehicle use, oil and gas drilling, and neglect. With an average of less than one ranger for every 200,000 acres, there are too few staff to protect these lands.

The President's FY'08 budget request for the Conservation System proposed the lowest funding levels since the system was established, providing less than $2.00 an acre to manage some of the crown jewels of western public lands.

ASLA has signed on in support of a letter requesting that the House and Senate Appropriations Committees provide increased funding for NLCS. The letter requests that the Congress provide $69 million for FY’08 to meet the critical needs of the system, including implementing new Resources Management Plans, protecting archaeological sites, implementing the 10-year Strategy and Plan for the National Scenic and Historic Trails, and controlling invasive species. The House Appropriations Committee is expected to begin consideration of funding for the NLCS and other BLM programs in early May 2007. ASLA is a member of the Conservation System Alliance.

Protection for the Conservation System also has support from the National Landscape Conservation System Congressional Caucus. Members of the Caucus are:

Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) (chair)
Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) (chair)
Rep. James Moran (D-VA) (chair)
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) (chair)
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA)
Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA)
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD)
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA)
Rep. John Olver (D-MA)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO)
Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM)

The Conservation System includes more than 800 units, including 15 National Monuments, 13 National Conservation Areas, Steens Mountain Cooperative Management Protection Area in Oregon, Headwaters Forest Reserve in northern California, 36 Wild and Scenic Rivers, 148 Wilderness Areas, 4,264 miles of National Scenic and Historic Trails, and more than 600 Wilderness Study Areas.

Julia Lent is the director of government affairs. Contact her at jlent@asla.org or phone 202-216-2330.