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.1 <br /> \~~d' L~~.., i . R . <br /> .,a_ ~ . <br /> COREY Kurt A <br /> From: DUCKETT Scott <br /> Sent: Monday, July 22,-2002 12:00 PM <br /> To: COREY Kurt A; MEDLIN Johnny R <br /> Subject: FW: Wetlands, BLM, Parkway -History <br /> FYI -Steve Gordon sent this summary this morning. I'm not sure who requested it but it may relate to an article that the Register <br /> Guard is working on about potential conflicts between Congressional appropriations and the Parkway. <br /> -----Original Message----- <br /> From: GORDON Steve C <br /> Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 11:38 AM <br /> To: TORREY Jim D; CARLSON Jim R; HEUSER Jason P; DUCKETT Scott; WOLD Eric N <br /> Subject: Wetlands, BLM, Parkway -History <br /> The Eugene District of BLM has received a little over $12M Land & Water Conservation Funds for West Eugene Wetlands <br /> since 1992. Some years we were not in the administration's budget. Some years we were in the House appropriations bill <br /> and not the Senate, some years in the Senate side, but not the House. Often BLM funding got resolved in Conference in the <br /> fall. <br /> When BLM adopted the 1992 Wetland Plan, it knew the Parkway was planned and accounted for in the Plan along the <br /> south side of the railroad. BLM actually bought land knowing that the Parkway might run through L&WCF lands at a later <br /> date. <br /> About the same time that the location of the Parkway was shifted north of the rr, a new Dept of Interior policy was adopted <br /> in 1996, making it clear that sale or exchange of L&WCF lands was not in the national interest. The 2000 amendmdnts to <br /> the Wetland Plan omitted the Parkway, requiring a later amendment once SDEIS issues could be worked out. <br /> As the natioaal policy changed, so did local BLM staff from Diitrict Manger to Coast Range Area Manager, to Wetland <br /> Coordinator. <br /> As we worked on future appropriations; we had discussions with BLM HQ staff in DC about Parkway status. <br /> <br /> This year, we knew the administration was not requesting the last $1 M in L&WCF for west Eugene. Our United Front <br /> request did not include a request fot he last $1M. However, in meeting with House Appropriations staff and the two <br /> Senators' staffs, we got a clear indication that they wanted to finish the project, knowing that the Parkway issue existed. So <br /> <br /> we submitted request forms to the Congressional delegation as per their deadlines. We are in the House bill for $1M and <br /> <br /> have a Senate note (attached is a version sent to me on June 28 by Jim Smith). <br /> LAND AUQUSITION <br /> The Committee has consistently supported the West Eugene Wetlands acquisition program over the <br /> <br /> years, and is aware that the Federal portion of the acquisition program, however, certain issues regarding the <br /> status of lands in the project .area must be resolved. Should these issues be resolved in a manner that warrants <br /> additional Federal acquisition support, the Committee will consider providing funding to complete the project. <br /> Legally resolving the Parkway issues hinges heavily. on the EIS process. On April 17th, we had a meeting suggested <br /> <br /> by BLM and facilitated by LCOG that involved EPA, Corps, USF&WS, ODF&W, BLM, City and ODOT to <br /> review the status of scientific data and processes on the Parkway and wetlands. Oregon DSL was the only key <br /> agency without a representative. <br /> 1 <br /> <br />