The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., in room 1114, Everett McKinley Dirksen Office Building, Alan Bible [chairman] presiding. Present: Senators Bible, Stevens, and Hatfield. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT STATEMENT OF BURTON W. SILCOCK, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ACCOMPANIED BY: GEORGE L. TURCOTT, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR NOLAN F. KEIL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RESOURCES EDWARD L. HASTEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRA- FRANK EDWARDS, DEPUTY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, RESOURCES FRANCIS M. WILES, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET, OFFICE OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST FOR FIREFIGHTING COSTS Senator BIBLE. This is the date set to hear the budget estimates of the Breau of Land Management. I think it will be best to hear first the Bureau's pending 1973 supplemental request, which is for firefighting costs and which totals $19 million. The justification will be included in full in the record. [The justification follows:] (997) Adjusted Appropriation to date: $77,767,000 Budget Estimate next fiscal year: $91,347,000 Request: $ 19,000,000 S. Doc Actual employment January 4, 1973, 3,492 Purpose and Need for Supplemental Funds A supplemental appropriation of $19,000,000 is requested for FY 1973. The supplemental is required to cover firefighting costs on public lands in the western states and Alaska. Total FY 1973 firefighting costs are estimated at $23.8 million, including $2.6 million in estimated spring fire costs and $21.2 million in actual obligations incurred from July 1 through November 30, 1972. Offsetting this is $4.8 million in the regular appropriation. Anticipated spring fire season costs are based on an average spring cost for the last five years. During the 1972 calendar year fire season, 2,936 fires burned approximately 1,355,000 acres. No additional permanent employees are included in this request. |