Feb. 14, 2003 – The U.S. House of Representatives slashed $1.5 million intended for National Park Service purchase of land at Salt River from an omnibus appropriations bill it approved on Thursday, but it kept $1 million in funding for capital improvement projects in the territory in the legislation.
"In an effort by Republicans to cut $1 billion from the Interior appropriations, our Salt River funding was lost," Delegate Donna Christensen said in a release.
The actions taken were on the 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which is a compilation of all the appropriation bills that were before the 107th Congress but not acted upon. The 108th Congress convened on Jan. 7.
The park's boundaries were expanded by 24 acres late last year. The owner of property bordering the parkland on the south wants to donate 15.5 acres to the park and another neighbor to the west wants to donate part and sell part of an 8.5-acre parcel. The smaller parcel includes a 4,800-square-foot house that could be used as a visitor center, something Salt River currently does not have.
"It's a setback, but it's not a devastating setback," NPS Superintendent Joel Tutein said Friday. "The funding guarantee for this year is not there, but that will not stop us from pursuing purchase of the property."
He said cited two options:
– The Trust for Public Land could purchase the property now and hold it in anticipation of a federal appropriation next year.
-The National Park Service could reprogram unspent money in its budget now targeted for projects elsewhere and make it available before the end of the fiscal year for acquiring the land.
In the latter scenario, Tutein said, he must work within the park system framework and make sure the local initiative is competitive for NPS money at the end of the fiscal year. "Our project is ready to go. It could get funding," he said.
Christensen said the $1 million capital improvement grant included in the omnibus bill "is an important down payment to help us meet the investments in solid waste and wastewater treatment facilities that we must make — or face millions in federal court penalties."
She added, though, that another item providing funding for V.I. wastewater facilities was cut by 10 percent. "We are grateful for the $450,000 that we will receive, even though it was cut, as were all member projects in the House and Senate," she said. The omnibus bill also must clear the U.S. Senate.
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