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Are “they” delivering? Prior to 2013 NY Governor Cuomo proposed a sporting license fee reduction justified to increase non-resident hunting and simplify the existing program. NY already ranks 7th in non-resident hunters, likely due to bordering states with little hunting opportunity rather than abundance of game. The Governor’s proposal was backed by the NY State Conservation Council because they said that sportsmen are paying more and getting less from the DEC and therefore it is not necessary to maintain such a high balance in the conservation fund. In 2013 the proposal was signed into law and takes effect in February 2014. A number of years ago a lifetime sporting license was created along with a separate account within the conservation fund in which revenue from lifetime licenses was to be staged and then turned over to the state comptroller to be used in the short term investment pool. On the federal level during 2013 Congress and President Obama began to sequester five percent of federal conservation trust funds derived from the Pitman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts. The trust funds are not the only programs affected this year. Despite federal conservation investment being less than one percent of the total budget; Congress and the administration opted to make deep cuts into conservation funding cutting 20 programs by either eliminating them or zeroing them out. Those same programs have already been cut by 25% the last few years. The federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp has not seen a price increase since the 1990s and is still only $15. This year a complicated scheme was launched to allow the fee to float with economic factors. New York phased out its state migratory bird stamp a number of years ago and is unwilling to take advantage of increased conservation funding which would be generated by instituting a mourning dove hunting season. Conservation funding is correlated to sporting license revenue. In 2012 license sales stabilized nationwide but the long term trend is a decline in license revenue every year as less and less people hunt. Four special youth seasons have been established in NY under the rationale of sustaining hunter numbers thereby conservation funding. While residents desire more access and opportunity non-residents, mostly from New Jersey and Connecticut flock to NY for better hunting and public land opportunities. At a very minimum it is very arguable that the state chose a bad time to increase the burn-rate of its conservation fund considering the simultaneous negative activity with federal conservation programs. 20 Programs and Agencies Zeroed Out in FY 2014 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill 1. Bureau of Land Management Land Acquisition (-$22.3 million) 2. Fish and Wildlife Service Construction (-$19.1 million) 3. Fish and Wildlife Service Land Acquisition (-$54.6 million) 4. North American Wetlands Fund (-$35.4 million) 5. Neotropical Migratory Birds Conservation Fund (-$3.7 million) 6. State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (-$61.3 million) 7. National Park Service Land Acquisition and State Assistance (-$101.8 million) 8. Forest Service Land Acquisition (-$52.5 million) 9. Forest Service Special Acquisitions (-$0.9 million) 10. Forest Service Land Exchange Acquisitions (-$0.2 million) 11. Forest Legacy Program (-$53.3 million) 12. Forest Service Planning (-$39.2 million) 13. Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (-$7.7 million) 14. Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts (-$8.5 million) 15. Woodrow Wilson Center (-$10.9 million) 16. Eisenhower Memorial Commission (-$1 million) 17. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields (-$90 million) 18. Environmental Protection Agency Alaska Native Villages Water Infrastructure (-$9.5 million) 19. Environmental Protection Agency US Mexico Border Water Infrastructure (-$4.7 million) 20. Environmental Protection Agency Smart Growth (-$1.7 million

Remember the geographic equity testimony during the budget hearing by leaders of several groups entrusted as stewards and spokesmen for all NY sportsmen. Looks like they and that lawmaker from Lake George didn't stop the Finch acquisition with the EP Fund. They did get their boat ramps in Harlem and other locations on the Hudson River too, and with a grant not tied to the conservation fund nor the environmental protection fund. Governor Cuomo recognized the 20th anniversary of the NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The EPF offers wide ranging benefits to communities around the state and plays an important role in preserving the state’s natural resources and habitats. After years of severe funding cuts, the Governor secured and increased funding for the EPF for this year by $19 million, bringing the Fund to a total of $153 million. Places like Boreas Mountain in the former Finch Pruyn lands in the Adirondacks (pictured) are protected, water quality improvements made, and waste management and reycling are increased through EPF funding. http://bit.ly/1bcHbOA

Federal Funds being held In August 2011, Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 aimed at cutting the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years by mandating automatic caps on federal government spending. That bill requires that 7.6% of the nation’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs and Boating Safety Trust Fund—collectively called the Trust Funds—be “sequestered” or withheld from distribution to the states. Sequestration would equate to a loss of $74 million to states in FY2013! The Trust Funds are the collection of excise taxes paid by industry to the federal government from the purchase of bows and arrows; guns and ammunition; fishing tackle and equipment; and motorboat fuel. They are the lifeblood of state fish and wildlife agencies’ day-to-day operating budgets. State agencies use their Trust Fund apportionments exclusively to restore and manage fisheries and wildlife and their habitats, open and maintain recreational access, and deliver hunter and boating safety education. Ask Congress (US Senators and US Representative – not the same as NY state senators and NY state assembly) to ‘Keep the Trust’ and exempt the Trust Funds from Sequestration! The Budget Control Act of 2011 requires that 7.6% of the nation's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs and Boating Safety Trust Fund-collectively called the Trust Funds-be "sequestered" or withheld from distribution to the states. Sequestration would equate to a loss of $74 million to states in FY2013. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Safety Trust Funds are not taxpayer dollars derived through federal income taxes. These funds are raised through excise taxes levied on bows and arrows; guns and ammunition; fishing tackle and equipment; and motorboat fuel that are paid upfront by manufacturers, producers and importers of taxable equipment, and in turn passed on as part of the retail price to sportsmen and women. The Trust Funds are the lifeblood of state fish and wildlife agencies' day-to-day operating budgets. State agencies use their Trust Fund apportionments exclusively to restore and manage fisheries and wildlife and their habitats, open and maintain recreational access, and deliver hunter and boating safety education. By withholding this money from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Safety Trust Funds, the Budget Control Act of 2011 will adversely affect states' ability to manage their fish and wildlife resources in the public interest and cut millions of dollars available for fish, wildlife and habitat conservation and hunting, angling, boating and recreational shooting activities in each state. Currently, there is no consistent substitute or replacement mechanism for the loss of these operating funds. In previous budget-balancing actions, money going into the Trust Funds appear to have been exempt from sequestration [balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (BBEDCA) of 1985. P.L. 99-177, Section 255, 11, (g)]. The 1985 Act specifically listed the programs and activities that were exempt from sequestration and specifically provided that "payments to trust funds from excise taxes or other receipts properly creditable to such trust funds" were to be "exempt from reduction." However, payments from such trust funds do not appear to be exempt. Because of this, the Federal Aid trust funds for Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration are scheduled to withhold 7.6% or $31 million and $34 million, respectively, in 2013. Members of the wildlife, sport fish, hunting, fishing, boating and conservation community and industry agree that sequestering the spending authority of these inviolable Trust Funds to states is a breach of faith and violates the intent of the user-pay, public-benefit system of fish and wildlife conservation and access. Congress can exempt the Trust Funds from sequestration by amending the "Exemption" provision found in Section 255 of 1985 Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act so as to include appropriations from such trust funds in addition to payments to such funds.

During the last DEC Budget hearing one of the issues raised by those invited to testify was about geographic equity of land acquisitions in general and in particular access to the Hudson River. Not sure if this is what they had in mind, but here is what they got... For Release: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 Grants Awarded to Improve Access to Hudson River for Underserved Communities Kingston, Albany, Yonkers and New York City Will Use Grants to Develop Plans to Provide Greater Opportunities to Enjoy Recreational OpportunitiesThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), has awarded four grants totaling $117,611 to provide access to the Hudson River and its tributaries for underserved communities, including people with disabilities and individuals living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The purpose of these grants is to support the development of plans or projects that will improve public access to the river and estuary for fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, wildlife education, and river watching in environmental justice neighborhoods. "The Hudson River Estuary Program is helping communities enjoy, protect and revitalize the Hudson River and its Valley," said Commissioner Martens. "These grants support efforts in four communities to develop projects that will make it easier for residents of disadvantaged neighborhoods to enjoy recreational and educational opportunities along the river and its tributaries, while also helping to revitalize river cities. The awards are part of a plan to connect environmental projects to the economic vitality of the region, and these four projects align with Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) goals and strategies." Ron Poltak, NEIWPCC Executive Director, said, "Providing waterfront access for underserved communities is key to building support for the Hudson. NEIWPCC is pleased to offer support for this important initiative." The four grant-funded projects are located in environmental justice (EJ) neighborhoods in Albany, Kingston, New York City and Yonkers: The City of Albany will receive $30,000 to conduct a community engagement and visioning plan to increase educational and recreational opportunities along the Patroon Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River estuary located within the Tivoli Lake Preserve, The Preserve is an underutilized 80-acre urban nature preserve located adjacent to two high-density lower-income communities -- the Arbor Hill and West Hill neighborhoods - and is the second largest urban nature preserve in New York State (only Central Park in New York City is larger). A related project, previously funded by the Hudson River Estuary Program, involves opening up sections of the Patroon Creek to daylight, in areas where the creek flows underground through culverts. The site is ideal for restoration, and the city will actively engage local residents in developing a vision for its use as a community asset. The project aligns with the Capital District REDC goal of waterfront revitalization. The City of Kingston will receive $30,000 to install a floating fishing pier/dock on the Rondout Creek next to T.R. Gallo Park and neighborhood subsidized housing complexes-one of the poorest census tracts in the city. The dock will provide the first public access fishing dock along Kingston's waterfront at Rondout Creek and will provide opportunities to catch a variety of fish of the Hudson estuary, such as perch, largemouth bass and striped bass. The Federated Sportsmen's Clubs of Ulster County will provide fishing equipment and host fishing classes in the downtown area to teach local residents to fish. The city's goal is to be a regional leader in providing access to disenfranchised citizens who can't access the water because they do not own boats. In addition to providing fishing access for low-income residents, the project includes ramps accessible for wheelchair users. This project meets a Mid-Hudson REDC goal to use of the region's natural infrastructure of parks, preserves and waterways, including the Hudson estuary, to promote recreational and tourism uses of the waterfront. The city office of Community Development is providing $20,000 in matching funds for the project, which also supports the city's local waterfront revitalization plan. West Harlem Environmental Action Inc. (WE ACT for Environmental Justice) will receive $30,006 to develop plans for a new community center for ecological education and recreational activities on the Hudson River at 135th Street, site of the abandoned Marine Transfer Station. This site has the potential to offer access to the Hudson River for residents of Harlem, creating a much-needed green center for northern Manhattan, an area that has been excessively burdened with polluting facilities. WE ACT seeks to turn an area known for community blight to a publicly accessible, ecologically beneficial green center, cultivating environmental stewards for the Hudson. The project will reach out to and seek to involve local schools in the visioning process, including Philip Randolph High School, PS 161, and Mott Hall High School Yonkers, Groundwork Hudson Valley will receive $27,605 to work with residents to develop access plans to the adjacent Saw Mill River for fishing, birding, walking, and environmental education. The Saw Mill River is a tributary stream of the Hudson River Estuary that is being restored as a community asset and habitat for local fish and wildlife. This project will provide access to the stream for residents of Walsh Homes, a senior housing residence, and families at Schlobohm Houses. These public housing complexes have a combined total of approximately 1,000 units of housing. The project will replace rusting chain link fences and imposing blockades that currently impede access, and replace them with small pocket parks and bucolic settings for residents to enjoy vistas of the river. Residents and families will be asked to volunteer their time in the restoration project and create true community engagement. The project will include interpretive signage about the habitats, fish and birds of the area, and will also offer educational and recreational activities such as bird-watching and river cleanups. For more information on the grants awarded, contact Fran Dunwell, NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, at 845-256-3016. The Hudson River Estuary Program is a project of the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. Helping people enjoy, protect and revitalize the Hudson River and its Valley, For more information on the Hudson River Estuary Program visit the DEC website.

Government holding onto Conservation Funds in 2013 Note: Payments into Trust Funds such as the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Safety Trust Funds are exempt from sequestration, however, payments out of these Trust Funds are not. According to the latest figures released from the White House, this will result in withholdings of approximately $27 million from Wildlife Restoration, $19 million from Sport Fish Restoration, and $6 million from Boating Safety in 2013. That is not good, but I am not sure if any state will even feel it split 50 ways, as NYs appropriations alone is around $20 million. And, if NY doesn’t kiss & make up with the FWS, that $20 Mill might go right back into the hat! Also note: Thanks to the Outdoor Writers Association, most sportsmen are only aware of the federal conservation funds known as PR and DJ funds, which are actually wildlife restoration and sport fish and boating restoration funds. However, as listed below, there actually is a myriad of federal conservation funds. To add insult to injury, generally speaking, most of the non-shooting conservationists are better versed in these programs than sportsmen. If that includes you, thank your info sources… Although ‘sequestration’ in the conservation world usually means carbon sequestration, the latest impacts to wildlife may actually be from the federal government’s budget sequestration. The Budget Control Act language of 2011 was intended to be a last ditch effort to force compromise in a divided Congress, but when an agreed upon budget was not reached by March 1, 2013, the budget sequestration cuts outlined in the Act [Pub. L. 112-25] were automatically enacted. In an attempt to lower the federal deficit by $85 billion ($42.667 billion in non-defense spending) through 10 years of austerity, the bill starts with an average of 5 percent cuts in non-defense spending (5 percent discretionary, 5.1 percent mandatory) and defense spending cuts between 5 and 7.8 percent. However, since these cuts must be achieved by September 30 of this year, the effective reductions will actually be around 13 percent for non-exempt defense programs and 9 percent for non-exempt non-defense programs, because the cuts are not spread evenly over all 12 months. Today the Continuing Resolution (CR) was passed to fund the rest of fiscal year 2013, locking in the current sequester cuts for the remainder of the year. Within the conservation realm, cuts to the National Park Service have been most widely publicized. On March 8, 2013, the National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis released a memo to his employees that “900 permanent positions will not be filled … [and] we will hire over 1,000 less seasonal employees this year.” The possible closure or reduced hours of national parks, as well as the impact to the small businesses surrounding the parks has been well covered by organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation, Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation, and National Parks Conservation Association. Similarly, national wildlife refuges may be forced to limit public access and recreational opportunities by closing some refuges and visitor centers. The funds for refuges are included in resource management cuts totaling $64 million. Refuges will also be hit by cuts to “construction” ($5 million) that include habitat restoration and erosion control activities, road, building, and visitor services on refuges, and $1 million in cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge Fund. On March 2, the White House Office of Management and Budget released a report detailing how much will be cut from each agency. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: $127 million$64 million from Resource Management $5 million from Construction $1 million from Multinational Species Conservation Fund $21 million from Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration $1 million from National Wildlife Refuge Fund $2 million from Migratory Bird Conservation Account $2 million from Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation $2 million from North American Wetlands Conservation Fund $3 million from State Wildlife Grants $23 million from Sport Fish Restoration U.S. Forest Service (USFS): $298 million Department of Defense: $526 Million $94 million from Department of Defense environmental restoration accounts $26 million from Environmental Restoration (formerly Used Defense Sites) $394 million from Defense Environmental Cleanup $12 million from Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup Bureau of Land Management: $75 million Natural Resources Conservation Service: $223 million National Park Service: $153 million Environmental Protection Agency: $472 million $125 million from USFS Wildland Fire Management $38 million from the Department of the Interior’s Wildland Fire Management Fire Management: $163 million States will also be affected, as funds that come from the federal government are cut. View an interactive map for information on your state (click on the environmental protection tab). Sources: ABC News (March 13, 2013), American Institute of Biological Sciences (March 11, 2013), Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Federal Budget Sequestration Fact Sheet, CARE –Fiscal Cliff and Wildlife (2012), Environment News Service (March 1, 2013), Fairfax News (March 7, 2013), National Geographic News (Feb. 28, 2013), National Wildlife Federation, Conservation Impacts of the Fiscal Cliff, NorthJersey.com News (March 4, 2013), Sequester could hurt NJ’s environment, NPSretirees.org, OMB Report to the Congress on the Joint Committee Sequestration For Fiscal Year 2013, USFWS 2013 Budget

NY has used a strategy for several years which purportedly will sustain conservation funding, however this locks up large amounts of money and does not seem to be necessary in the first place. Time is of the essence characterizes conservation. There is no time to play politics or investment banking with conservation funds. Investment in conservation pays, it does not cost... One example is open land returns a yield of five dollars on one dollar invested. Policy makers instead decided to invest a portion of sporting license revenues not in conservation, but in the state short term investment pool at a maximum return of 6% and delay the DEC access to that return for 12 months while tens of millions of principle is run through the state's STIP and not accessible to the DEC for an indefinite time. It is our goal to make the conservation community fully aware of this and make their own decisions on whether this strategy is wise. Those who are opposed to this strategy can boycott lifetime sporting licenses and buy annual licenses instead. In addition those opposed can contact the NY state assembly & senate, particularly those representing their voting district and the chairs of the assembly & senate environmental conservation committees. http://youtu.be/0aWP8ZzgetQ

http://youtu.be/CWWFrHn63eA

Highlights of sportsmen–related testimony during the 2013 NY DEC budget hearing DEC Commissioner Joe Martens Discusses FWS audit of budget causing problems with eligibility for federal sport fish and wildlife restoration funds: CFAB, FWMB, and NYSCC License fees and Conservation Fund, among other things. Mark Grisanti, 60th Senate District, Chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee License fees, pheasant farm, conservation fund, federal sport fish and wildlife restoration funds Sean Ryan 48th Senate District Pheasant farm, fish hatcheries Sweeney assembly Federal sport fish and wildlife restoration funds Daniel Stec 114th District Assembly Opposes Land Acquisition with EP funds which were increased $19 million this year Otis, 91st District Assembly Wants the DEC to emphasis engineering solutions for flood mitigation over eco-based land solutions. In other word; construction instead of restoration of natural systems which buffer storms and floods with associated benefits to recreation and ecology. NY Audubon Society Testifies about federal sport fish and wildlife restoration funds and sweeping of conservation fund. Hunters may be surprised that a NY bird watchers organization, has been watching the federal funds paid into by sportsmen via excise taxes on guns, ammo, archery gear, and some hunting and fishing equipment other than guns and ammo and outboard oil. Nature Conservancy Explains its role as a land trust, including its purchase of the Finch property to be sold to the DEC over a five year installment. William Cook, Citizens Campaign for the Environment Explains he was involved in from the beginning of the EPF and indicates the original intent had only the purpose of land acquisition. This fund now has several accounts for diverse uses, however it puts the strain on the DEC to administer the fund into those diverse uses, such as pumping water in Queens to alleviate basement flooding of residents. Grisanti - Asks DEC to look at an agriculture special interest “ASAP”

This was just posted by the NY Senate on youtube. I suggest watching the whole video, but in segments, since it is over 7 hours long. For example I watch one hour an evenening for 7 days. Do not skip over discussions which do not interest you because you can get a feel for each assembly and senate members attitude which is valuaeble intell. I would like to discuss this in segments as well. Particularily interesting is questions to DEC commissioner Martens from Mark Grisanti. Grisanti is the chairman of the senate environmental conservation committee. Grisanti refused to forward S-6968, the NY Dove Bill for two years allowing the bill to expire to the delight of the HSUS. The stated justification of the dove bill was to increase the states conservation fund. Grisanti did not discuss doves, but he did say that the conservation fund is so large that license fees should be reduced. No he didnt say use the money, he said lower fees so the fund depletes. The kicker is the next thing he asks about is the possible loss of federal conservation funds. If you know anything about these federal funds you know that these are grants which a state or organization applies for on a somewhat competitive basis. The state or organization's conservation funds are matched three to one. For example if the state applies one million dollars toward a project, the FWS chips in an additional 3 million. So Grisanti wants to drain the states conservation fund, but yet wants federal grants? This is just an "illusion of action" because the state cannot access its share of federal wildife funds unless it has an approved project proposal and its share of matching funds. Another point is concern with the hatcheries and the state pheasant farm. I hunt released pheasant and am glad that this program is in good shape, despite that NY got sued a few years ago by the HSUS to abolish released pheasant hunting - yeah I know nobody heard about that, but I will be reporting on that at a latter date.What is remarkable about the hatchery/farm concern is that state and federal conservation funds can create natural hatcheries/farms by habitat enhancements - a fundemental purpose of such funds. Our state has become so disconnected to that and the way this topic flowed it should have biologists shaking their heads. Please watch this entire video in segments and participate in productive discussion in the next several weeks.

Funds from Lifetime license sequestered from conservation Conservation fund has added a fund called the fish and game trust account. It is sometimes called the fish and game trust fund. The conservation fund has 8 different accounts Traditional account Marine resources/shellfish account State fish and game trust account* Migratory bird stamp account Guide’s license account Habitat account Venison donation account Outdoor recreation and trail maintenance account [*]State fish and game trust account Sequesters and separates funds from lifetime licenses from other license funds. Lifetime license fees are put into the fish and game trust account. All other (annual) sporting license funds are put into the traditional account. Funds in the fish and game trust account are not accessible or liquid. Funds are not used for conservation instead invested by the state comptroller in the Short Term Investment Pool (“STIP”). Traditional account is used for conservation practices only. Interest/yield/return from the state fish and game trust account might revert to the traditional fund account to be used for conservation. State keeps yield beyond price of an annual sporting license, therefore, the maximum amount that can revert back to the traditional account and thereby be used for conservation is the price of an annual license. The actual law follows: iii.Earned income from the sale of all lifetime licenses, except income earned on the proceeds of the sale of a lifetime license during the period from sale of such license until April first of the year following one full year of deposit of the proceeds of the sale of such lifetime license, shall be available for deposit within the conservation fund pursuant to paragraph one of this subdivision in an amount equal to the cost of the appropriate annual license. The earned income which exceeds the current cost of each annual license comparable to the lifetime license shall be added to the trust account as principal. The earned income from lifetime licenses issued to persons who are under the legal age to implement such licenses shall be added to the trust account as principal until such person becomes of legal age to hunt, fish or trap. Very complicated stipulations are set forth for lifetime licenses bought for children before they are old enough to hunt, as written in the state finance law quoted above. The funds in the fish and game account can be used by the state to lend itself money creating a ‘shell game’ according to state comptroller, DiNapoli: (The states STIP, which holds unused funds from various agencies and was intended as a kind of credit line for ‘episodic shortfalls’ is ‘now used to cover built in and permanent structural deficits’. See below or click link: http://www.osc.state...pr10/040510.htm Abusing Temporary Loans •The state often borrows from the state’s Short Term Investment Pool (STIP) to meet short-term cash shortfalls. These loans, intended to cover episodic shortfalls, are now used to cover built-in and permanent structural deficits. For the last 10 years, the state has closed the fiscal year with an average of $1.4 billion in outstanding temporary loans, clearly illustrating the state’s failure to address chronic deficits deeply embedded within the budget. •The General Fund is increasingly relying on temporary loans from other funds. In December 2009, for the first time in recent history, the state closed the month with a General Fund cash deficit of $577 million prior to adjustments. In 2010-11, DOB is projecting the General Fund will have to borrow from other funds for four months in a row, starting in May. Federal conservation funds may be affected In 2012, language in the New York State budget did not comply with the conditions of receiving federal conservation funds. The NY DEC and FWS worked with the governor’s office to meet compliance and language in the budget was revised. However, the fish and wildlife service indicated that although they would accept this revision for 2012; that in the following year, 2013, more revisions were necessary. During the 2013 Environmental conservation budget hearing, there was discussion that the FWS again rejected the language in this year’s budget. The commissioner of the DEC had indicated that during this hearing that the issue is being resolved. This is not verified, but we believe part of the issue regarding New York’s eligibility for federal sport fish and wildlife restoration funds is due to the sequestration of lifetime license funds 3. Investing the state Fish and game trust account may have incurred a large loss in 2010*** ***Supporting graphs attached to adobe file at the beginning of post, on page 3*** For other issues, follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook...365031743546569

The New head of the DOI President Obama on Wednesday will nominate Recreational Equipment (REI) chief executive Sally Jewell to head the Interior Department, according to a White House official who asked not to be identified because the public announcement has not yet been made. The choice of Jewell, who began her career as an engineer for Mobil Oil and worked as a commercial banker before heading a nearly $2 billion outdoors equipment company, represents an unconventional choice for a post usually reserved for career politicians from the West. But while she boasts less public policy experience than other candidates who had been under consideration, Jewell, who will have to be confirmed by the Senate, has earned national recognition for her management skills and support for outdoor recreation and habitat conservation. In 2011 Jewell introduced Obama at the White House conference on “America’s Great Outdoor Initiative,” noting that the $289 billion outdoor-recreation industry supports 6.5 million jobs. Jewell, who is being nominated to succeed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, would take over at a time when many conservationists are pressing Obama to take bolder action on land conservation. Salazar devoted much of his tenure to both promoting renewable energy on public land and managing the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. On Tuesday former interior secretary Bruce Babbitt gave a speech at the National Press Club calling on the president to set aside one acre permanently for conservation for every acre he leases for oil and gas development. “It’s that simple: one to one,” Babbitt said. “So far, under President Obama, industry has been winning the race as it obtains more and more land for oil and gas. Over the past four years, the industry has leased more than 6 million acres, compared with only 2.6 million acres permanently protected. In the Obama era, land conservation is again falling behind.” Facing congressional opposition and budget constraints during Obama’s first term, Salazar emphasized the importance of enlisting private sector, state and local support to protect major landscapes through America’s Great Outdoors Initiative. Jewell emerged as a strong advocate of the policy, and is likely to continue such efforts. While public lands protection has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support, this issue has become increasingly polarized, and the 112th Congress was the first one since 1966 to fail to designate a single piece of wilderness. Environmentalists such as Babbitt have urged Obama to use the Antiquities Act, which gives presidents the executive authority to set aside land as national monuments, to protect ecologically valuable areas in the West. Jewell has pushed for land conservation both in Washington state, where she lives, as well as nationally. She is a founding board member of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, which focuses on a stretch of land spanning from Puget Sound across the Cascades, and helped lay out a plan for the National Park Service as a commissioner on the “National Parks Second Century Commission.” Wyss Foundation president Molly McUsic, whose group focuses on land conservation, wrote in an e-mail that Jewell “understands the full economic potential of America’s resources.” “She knows the oil and gas business from having worked at Mobil and in the banking industry, but also understands the growing economic potential of America’s $646 billion outdoor recreation industry,” McUsic added. “She knows that to grow the economy, development of energy resources must be on equal ground with the protection of places that drive tourism, travel, and recreation.” While Jewell is more closely identified with the Democratic Party than the Republicans, she made a high-profile appearance with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) back in 2008 when he was running for president. McCain spoke with Jewell and others at an environmental policy roundtable outside of Seattle, during which the senator argued that he had stronger environmental credentials than either Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton, who were both vying for the Democratic presidential nomination at the time. Other contenders for the Cabinet position in recent weeks included former Washington governor Christine Gregoire (D), Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.).