A summary

UNCONSTRAINED BUDGET FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

of current and "wish list" funding levels and a short discussion by major program areas follow:

Our

goal would be to increase the number of interpretive positions in the field to 3,000 (up from 2,000). This effort would require an additional $2025 million annually.

The Harpers Ferry Center produces the exhibits on display in visitor centers, historic structures, and along park roads and trails. There is currently a backlog of approximately $68 million in the exhibit rehabilitation program managed by the Center. In order to accommodate this backlog by the year 2000, the current program could be increased by $4-5 million annually.

Law Enforcement/Visitor Protection:

Increase: $25

40 million

In recent years, the increase in the number of park areas and significant increases in visitation have strained the Service. $6 million could be spent at over 90 park units to fight illicit drug activity, largely through increased patrols and more modern equipment.

Another $6-10 million for law enforcement patrols has been identified prior to the recent focus on drug use.

In addition, approximately $5 million has been identified by Ranger Activities officials as needed for search and rescue, criminal investigations, and emergency services. Another $5-10 million could be used to provide for a better level of structural fire suppression for an expanded training program and for purchase of protective gear and equipment, particularly fire trucks. Alaska Operations:

Increase: $10 15 million

The passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980 greatly changed the role of the National Park Service in Alaska. With the creation of 10 new park areas and the significant boundary expansion of 3 others, total acreage increased from 7 million to over 54 million acres. Additional funding of approximately $10-15 million can be used to implement an optimal operating level for the parks.

Park Administration and Overhead Support:

Increase: $30 50 million

Additional needs exist in number of areas pertaining to administration management requirements. These shortfalls total $2-5 million.

and

be

Additional funds could be used for employee transfer costs, which could increased by approximately $3 million. The uniform allowance could be increased by approximately $1 million. An employee health and fitness program could be implemented with an additional $2 million. The new recreation fee program could use additional equipment, facilities, and staff to maximize the potential return to the parks. Approximately $1-2 million could be used.

Additional computer capability could be used in the parks, Regional Offices, and Washington. The acquisition of the computer hardware, including communication equipment, range from $15-20 million. Also, $2-5 million would be required for data transmission and systems. In addition, Servicewide databases such as a possible Criminal Incident Reporting System and the expansion of the Geographic Information System (GIS) could utilize $4-5 million.

Maintenance:

Increase: $185

195 million

The amount identified in the Basic Operations Study for maintenance at 1982 base levels was approximately $340 million. When adjusted for inflation, this amount would currently exceed $430 million. The 1986 Task Force Report recommended a funding level of approximately $309 million, in 1985 dollars. When adjusted for inflation, this amount would currently exceed $350 million.

Based on the above information, a possible optimal level for a cost effective maintenance program would be between $440 and $450 million, increase of $185-$195 million.

Natural Resources:

an

Increase:

operate 50

full pollutant

An additional $12-13 million could be used to: monitoring stations; 61 full visibility monitoring stations; 34 sites for monitoring wet and dry acid deposition; set up very basic long-term biotic monitoring programs in 58 units; undertake geothermal monitoring; develop water monitoring programs, prepare water resources management plans; etc.

Research and Studies activities could use approximately $5-6 million. Areas to be studied include: biological control methods for exotic species of plants and animals; effects of air pollution, including wet and dry acid precipitation; analysis of visibility data related to air quality monitoring; biological indicators of water quality; etc.

Preservation, Mitigation, and Restoration acti ities could use $18-$25 million to address problems facing units of the Park System. Also, Natural Resources Management training could utilize approximately $1-2 million.

Cultural Resources:

Increase: $17

27 million

Inventory and Planning activities could use an increase of approximately $5-6 million to improve information on cultural resources and their condition. Monitoring and Maintenance activities require an increase of approximately $11 -20 million to eliminate backlogs. Cultural Resources Management training could use approximately $1 million to aid the management and interpretation of cultural resources of park areas. General Management Plans:

General Management Plans are now complete for most units in the System; but since they have been developed for 5 - 15 year time frames, many are outdated or need amendments to address specific needs. There are also needs related to other studies and technical planning services.

84-150 0-88

Regional General Administration Expenses:

Increase: $25

35 million

The General Administration Expenses activity supports all parks and programs through funding for each Regional Directorate, and the offices performing professional services, personnel administration, fiscal control, procurement, and many other functions. There have been no significant increases Regional GAE to fund new or expanded operations and programs.

to

$1.1

Since ideal budget levels for ONPS programs fall within a total range of and $1.2 billion, increases to park and Regional programs must include appropriate increases to Regional based General Administration. Assuming that 3% represents a reasonable factor for the related administrative support. an optimal GAE activity to support expanded operations in the ten Regions is estimated in the $25-35 million range.

CONSTRUCTION:

Increase: $110 135 million

Roads

The FHWA estimates that $1.1 billion is required to rehabilitate all NPS primary roads, and $1.7 billion would be required to bring all NPS roads up to good or better condition. Based on the fact that with an original authorization of $100 million annually, at best, the Service did not lose ground in maintaining the condition of our roads, a reasonably optimal road and bridge construction and rehabilitation level would be between $175-200 million annually.

Regular NPS (Buildings, Utilities, and Resource Preservation) Construction

The

Service maintains a Servicewide priority listing of construction-related projects. This file contains approximately 380 non-road related projects, totalling $840 million. The Service's future year file of proposed construction projects which do not have Servicewide priorities, listing totals another $2 billion.

One

area underrepresented on the current priority listing is park employee housing. The recent detailed review of park housing conditions concluded that approximately $267 million would be required to bring the Service's 5,000 housing units to standards. Also, the future year file shows that $860 million has been identified at 90 new and developing areas.

Based upon this information and the fact that other facilities will reach the time for major reconstruction or replacement as each year goes by, an optimal level would be between $125 to $150 million annually.

LAND ACQUISITION:

Increase: $184 - 194 million

The current Land Acquisition backlog for the existing units of the National Park Service is approximately $1 billion. This amount has been stated as the need to round out the National Park System. The amount include funds required

for authorized units, but does not include funds that may be needed to acquire land added by new units to the system or additions to existing units beyond legislation currently in effect or units under serious consideration, such as Tallgrass Prairie. Also, the backlog does not take into account deficiency needs for the 1978 legislative taking at Redwoods National Park. Finally, lands for acquisition in the Alaskan units are not included in the $1 billion figure.

Based on a $1 billion backlog and with a 6 percent annual increase in land price escalation, it is estimated that with an annual appropriation of $200 million the backlog could be eliminated in 6 fiscal years. This level assumes $8 million per year for administrative costs.

APPROPRIATION:

JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS:

Increase: $1 million

Two areas of increased funding needs are increasing utility costs, particularly electricity, and periodic and routine maintenance projects which are often deferred due to lack of resources. Since over 90% of the Center's operating budget is needed for fixed and non-discretionary costs such as personnel services, service contracts, and utilities, an additional amount of funds dedicated to the cyclical and multi-year structural and internal systems maintenance of the Center, and made part the JFK Center appropriation, is

evident.

APPROPRIATION:

NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION:

Increase: $20 million

The activities under the NR&P appropriation, Recreation Programs, Natural Programs, National Register Programs, Environmental Compliance and Review, and Grants Administration for HPF and UPAR, are a combination of responsibilities traditionally carried out by NPS since the transfer of HCRS functions to NPS in 1981. Current budgetary levels for these programs could be approximately tripled.