• President’s order putting offshore resources off limits threatens conservation funding
• Offshore production is a major source of conservation funding under the Great American Outdoors Act
• $2.8 billion annually for national parks and community outdoor projects put at risk

DENVER – Western Energy Alliance sounds the alarm on how President Biden’s executive action today to eliminate access to offshore oil and natural gas resources threatens long-term funding for conservation and outdoor programs. Federal oil and natural gas revenues almost exclusively fund the $2.8 billion annually for federal conservation programs under the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), with offshore revenues funding 100 percent of the $900 million for the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

“By attempting to restrict offshore access before walking out the door, President Biden also threatens treasured outdoor spaces across the country. The president completely ignores the fact that the Land and Water Conservation Fund is exclusively funded by offshore oil and natural gas leasing and production,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Alliance. “Nearly every community nationwide has a park or outdoor recreation facility that has received funding from the LWCF. National parks that have struggled with dilapidation and damages from overcrowding similarly benefit from offshore revenues. These funds help protect water ways, support wildlife, and build trails and playgrounds. President Biden put the future of these projects at risk with his Executive Order.”

“For 60 years Democrats and Republicans have prioritized balancing conservation with energy production. President Biden’s unilateral executive action not only puts much-needed energy reserves on a shelf, it upends the historical balance with just the stroke of a pen. We look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration and both parties in the new Congress to protect conservation funds. Together, we can balance responsible energy development with protecting the outdoors,” added Sgamma.

Background

In 2020, the National Park Service (NPS) faced a $13 billion backlog for outstanding maintenance projects. In 2023, that figure ballooned to $23.3 billion. The backlog on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies totals another $14.5 billion.

The Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law by President Trump in August 2020. It directs $2.8 billion revenues annually from energy development on non-park, non-wilderness public lands and waters into national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands to fund conservation and repairs for visitor centers, trails, campgrounds, and other facilities.

The law created the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund for national park and public lands restoration of up to $1.9 billion annually for five years from offshore and onshore energy revenues, which are over 90% from oil and natural gas.

GAOA also provides full, permanent funding of $900 million annually into LWCF for the first time since the program was started in 1965. Royalties and leasing revenue from offshore oil fund 100% of LWCF and support national parks, wetlands, forests, and wildlife refuges.

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