Conservation Courtesy of the Oilfield
As Americans venture outdoors to enjoy national, state, and local parks, it’s a prime moment to spotlight the largest federal investments in public lands conservation in the past 50 years as well as emerging threats.
Now in its fourth year, the Great American Outdoors Act epitomizes the balance between preserving our nation’s cherished places and utilizing public lands that are working landscapes.
The landmark law directs $2.8 billion annually from energy development on non-park, non-wilderness public lands and waters into national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands. In return, essential conservation projects and infrastructure repairs that have languished for years are now being funded.
Public lands have seen a surge in visitors in recent years, driven by the need for outdoor recreation during the COVID pandemic, inspiring social media posts, and aggressive marketing by the outdoor industry. Unfortunately, the increased popularity exacerbates problems arising from chronic underfunding of maintenance and infrastructure.
The toll is adding up! The costs of fixing and replacing aging National Park Service infrastructure alone has grown from $13 billion in 2020 to a staggering $23.3 billion last year. Similarly, public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and other federal agencies face an additional $14.5 billion in maintenance backlogs.
The Great American Outdoors Act was enacted in 2020 to address these growing costs. It passed with strong bipartisan support and is a rare good-news story out of Washington, DC, in recent years. Under the law, the new National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund dedicates 50 percent of the revenues from oil, gas, coal, and renewable energy development on federal lands and waters, up to $1.9 billion annually, for national park and public land restoration. According to the Office of Natural Resource Revenue, 93.3 percent of the revenues available come from federal oil and natural gas development, while wind energy contributes a mere three percent.
The Great American Outdoors Act also fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually for the first time since 1965. LWCF supports recreation and conservation projects in national parks, wetlands, forests, wildlife refuges, and state and local parks. It’s fully funded by offshore oil and natural gas production.
Thanks to revenues generated from the oil and natural gas industry, national parks are receiving needed funding. For example, this year Grand Canyon National Park is receiving $180 million to replace utility systems on the North Rim to provide essential services for 300,000 visitors annually. Yosemite National Park is receiving $180 million to upgrade a 45-year-old water facility that treats up to one-million gallons per day. In Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is getting $15 million to replace the water distribution system relied upon by visitors and for fire protection.
Despite these successes the future of this conservation funding is threatened by over 200 actions from the Biden Administration to stop American energy production. Many of the president’s actions lay the foundation to transition away from production on public lands entirely, putting at risk $2.8 billion annually for conservation and park infrastructure.
The Great American Outdoors Act represents a pivotal investment in protecting our public lands. To ensure the continued success of this essential conservation effort, it’s crucial to maintain their responsible development and recognize their role in funding the maintenance and restoration of our nation’s treasured landscapes. If Biden Administration policies lead to the president’s ultimate goal of “no oil on federal lands,” revenues for projects would dry up.