WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the new Senate energy bill could provide the funding necessary to reverse cuts to state parks and reduce the risk that they would have to be closed in the future.  It would also allow New York State Parks to make critical upgrades and improvements. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), funded through offshore oil and gas drilling royalties has historically been authorized at $900 million per year to help acquire and develop outdoor recreation facilities, but Congress has only appropriated the full allotment twice in the last 40 years, despite the fact that the Treasury Department collects the full $900 million in royalties.  Providing land acquisition and development dollars to the New York State Parks, could free up dollars to keep the parks open.

During a conference call, joined by New York State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash, Schumer said that the new bill, released this week, contains full funding for LWCF, which could provide almost unprecedented resources to the state.  The critical step now is passing the bill and ensuring that a significant portion of the funding goes to state, and not just the federal government.  That decision will be made by the Administration, and Schumer will fight to make sure that the state gets its fair share.

“These dollars, already being collected by oil and gas drilling companies, have hardly been used for their intended purpose and should be spent on parks and outdoor recreation as Congress intended.” said Schumer. “In the last year we have seen park closures and programs New Yorkers have come to expect eliminated because of squeezed state budgets. By providing the state more funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, state parks will have greater flexibility to restore cuts to popular parks and make long overdue improvements that will ensure our state’s parks are national treasures for years to come.”