Gerry Barnhart, Director of DEC’s Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources, and Mr. Colvin jointly briefed the Council on this landmark legislative initiative. Mr. Barnhart explained that CARA was the culmination of many years of work at the federal level. Its goal is to increase the revenue stream for natural resource conservation by diverting a portion of the continental shelf oil and gas lease and production revenues to natural resource conservation in the states. The states are provided with considerable discretion on how to use the funds, but there is also strategic direction given by Congress in the language of the Act. A balance had to be struck between the interests of the oil industry and of conservation.

New York has been playing a major role in obtaining the necessary consensus to keep this bill moving; continuing action is required to keep our senators focused on completing the process. Title I of the Senate compromise bill sets aside money for onshore impact of offshore development and mineral exploration. As there is at present no exploratory work of this sort off New York’s coastline, New York would not be in a position to receive any of these funds. A separate section of Title I for ocean and coastal conservation is budgeted at $350 million annually--$250 million for marine and great lakes coastal stewardship activities and $100 million for fisheries management, research, and cooperative agreements between the states and the federal government. The formula for allocating the coastal stewardship activity funds is favorable to New York (50% equally to all states, 25% according to population, and 25% based on shoreline miles). Of the $100 million earmarked for fisheries, not less than $25 million of this will go to states with agreements with NMFS. The remaining funds would go to states for marine fisheries research and management. There is no formula yet for dividing up this money among the states.

Title II of CARA restores funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a matching program (50% federal, 50% state) where federal funds are given to the states for land acquisition, park development, and maintenance projects. This would include nature trails and boat launches as well as playgrounds in urban areas. New York’s likely annual allocation out of Title II is $18-25 million.

Title III of CARA gives states matching funds (75% federal, 25% state) for wildlife conservation, recreation, and education. New York’s share would be about $17.5 million as an amendment to the current Pittman-Roberts legislation, which currently is funded at only $6 million.

Messrs. Barnhart and Colvin both made the point that CARA, especially Title I, would provide the Bureau of Marine Resources with an unprecedented capability to collect and analyze the full depth and breadth of scientific, economic, and resource information needed to do good science and to turn that good science into effective management of marine resources. Title I would also provide resources to the NYS Department of State that would be of great value to coastal communities for infrastructure planning projects appropriate under coastal zone management plans. For more information on CARA, see the DEC website: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/cara.html.

Councilor Schwab cautioned that erosion control activities could easily divert a large fraction of the funds to New York through CARA and this should be guarded against. Chairman Wise notes that the Council had a responsibility to advise DEC on expenditures for marine resources programs. If CARA is enacted, what would be the contribution of MRAC to the process of determining expenditure plans? Mr. Barnhart responded that the plans would be developed with the full participation of existing advisory bodies and other affected groups. Mr. Colvin suggested that the Council use its existing marine programs funding subcommittee as a vehicle for involving the Council in CARA planning. The tentative DEC priority list for CARA funded projects includes the following general topics: scientific studies; natural resource management on private lands; natural resources law enforcement; and environmental education. Mr. Barnhart indicated that DEC would commence the internal work in the autumn and there would be extensive outreach to the public during the winter as an expenditure plan for the anticipated CARA funding is developed. Mr. Colvin added that the Senate version carried a deadline of April 1, 2001 for submitting coastal stewardship project proposals. These would probably be five year plans with annual re-application required for all titles.

If the CARA legislation is passed, funds should begin to flow in October of 2001, and they could be expended from the start of the state fiscal year, April 1, 2002. Mr. Barnhart informed the Council that Title I funds would be administered by NOAA; Title II funds by the Department of the Interior; and Title III by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.