tion by the counties in revenues from wildlife refuges, is amended to read as follows: "SEC. 401. (a) Beginning etc., etc." I speak only as an individual, but I am sure I have the wholehearted support of the Montana Wildlife Federation, that we agree, that before any wetlands can and/or may be purchased in the State of Montana, this bill should be enacted. The principal reason for nonsupport to any wetlands, either State or Federal is the tax structure effecting those counties involved. This may or may not be a valid objection, but certainly is one most commonly used. Montana has plenty of land, what they need here is a "water bank," not a "soil bank." Thanking you in advance, and willing to cooperate where at all possible. Sincerely, JAMES H. DELANO, Vice President, Southeastern District, Montana Wildlife Federation. ASSOCIATION OF OREGON COUNTIES, Salem, Oreg., April 29, 1963. Hon. WALTER NOBBLAD, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: The Oregon State Senate today passed and sent to Governor Hatfield for signature H.B. 1551, a bill requested by this association which gives the county governing bodies the authority to approve or disapprove of proposed land acquisitions by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As you undoubtedly know, this has been a hotly contested issue and there is no assurance that the Governor will sign the bill. The sole reason for our sponsorship of this legislation is that these acquisitions will in the next few months be taking land off the property tax rolls to such an extent that there will be a serious fiscal impact in some counties. We have made efforts, beginning as early as last spring, to enlist the cooperation of the Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife so that counties might parteipate informally in the selection of the needed wetlands. However, the Bureau has been unwilling to disclose to us the parcels of land they hope to acquire. At the meeting of the Western Regional District of the National Association of Counties last December, this problem came in for considerable discussion. As a result, amendments were proposed to legislation along the lines of S. 2138 of the 87th Congress, which, if approved, would overcome any objection the counties have to the present program. Legislation similar to S. 2138 has been introduced this session as S. 179, H.R. 1004, H.R. 1127, and H.R. 2393. None of these bills meet the objections to S. 2138 raised by the counties. A copy of the resolution adopted by the western district on this subject is enclosed for your information. We would appreciate your cooperation in attempting to secure amendments to any legislation which may be passed this session along these lines. There can be no doubt that the type of legislation passed in Oregon today will pose some difficulties for the Department in implementing its wetlands acquisition program. Similar legislation already exists in California and Nevada. Such legislation would be unnecessary if there were a reasonable system of payments in lieu of taxes on behalf of lands included in the National Wildlife Reserve System. Sincerely yours, KENNETH C. TOLLENAAR, WESTERN REGIONAL DISTRICT, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES GRAZING, WATER AND REVENUE CONFERENCE (Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev., December 11-13, 1962) At the conclusion of the revenue session, December 13, 1962, the following resolutions were adopted: "1. Moved by Commissioner Ed Munro, of King County, Wash., seconded, and passed unanimously: "Whereas statutory authority exists for acquisition of land by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to add to the National Wildlife Refuge System; and "Whereas the need for a more equitable system of shared revenues and payments in lieu of taxes to county governments for such lands has been recognized by the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, the congressional Committees on Commerce, and other groups which have studied this problem carefully; and "Whereas S. 2138, 87th Congress, 2d session, as proposed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, did not fully meet the recognized need for improvement of the present formula for shared revenue and payments in lieu of taxes with respect to the national wildlife refuge system: Therefore be it "Resolved, That the Western Regional District, National Association of Counties, recommends to the parent organization that if legislation similar or identical to S. 2138 is introduced in the 88th Congress it be amended in the following particulars: "1. Departmental administrative expenses, as described in section 401(b) of S. 2138, should be provided from regular appropriations, and should not be deducted from wildlife refuge revenues; "2. Mineral receipts and timber receipts, whether from reserved lands or acquired lands, should be shared on the present 25-percent basis with the counties in the particular area of the system from which such receipts are derived; "3. The value of acquired lands, for the purpose of the three-fourths of 1 percent formula, should be determined by a joint appraisal committee, consisting of a representative of the Department, a representative of the counties in the particular area of the system, and a neutral third party acceptable to both the Department and the counties; and there should be a reappraisal at least every 5 years; "4. If revenues from the system in any given year are insufficient to meet the Federal obligation to the counties under the three-fourths of 1 percent formula, the amount needed to meet the obligation should be taken from duck stamp revenues; "5. As to any land acquired in the future, which is part of an existing drainage, irrigation, diking, or similar district, the Department should continue to be liable for any assessments levied by the district." NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, Hon. THRUSTON B. MORTON, DEAR SENATOR MORTON: Since the Senate Committee on Commerce presently has S. 1363, a bill which pertains to the participation of counties in revenues from the national wildlife system, under active consideration, I thought you would be interested in reviewing the three enclosed statements which were presented by representatives of county government during the recent companion hearings by the House Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation. These statements fully endorse the inclusion of the so-called Metcalf amendment within S. 1963, as a compromise approach which can be strongly supported by all persons and organizations, including county governments, which have an interest in the wetlands acquisition program. It is within this spirit of compromise that the National Association of Counties has endorsed S. 1363, with the Metcalf amendment, as a constructive proposal that is in the interest of all citizens and in furtherance of the program objectives of the fish and wildlife program. Sincerely yours, PAUL N. CARLIN, Assistant Director for Federal Ownership Problems. (COMMITTEE NOTE.-The following communications were received by the committee pertaining to Senate bill, S. 1363, which is similar to House versions on this subject.) Hon. T. A. THOMPSON, MONTGOMERY, ALA., April 23, 1964. Chairman, Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee, U.S. House of Representatives, aWshington, D.C.: Urge your support of enactment of legislation similar to S. 1363 including Metcalf option amendment. Early passage essential to wetlands acquisition program. CLAUDE D. KELLEY, Director, Alabama Department of Conservation. OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA., April 21, 1964. Congressman T. A. THOMPSON, Chairman, Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee, Washington, D.C.: Strongly urge your support for enactment of legislation similar to S. 1363 including Metcalf option amendment at hearing scheduled April 22 and 23 by House Fisheries and Wildlife Committee which provides for sharing revenue from national waterfowl refuges to support local governments. Early passage essential to national wetland acquisition program for migratory waterfowl valuable to Oklahoma sportsmen. Hon. T. A. THOMPSON, WENDEL BEVER, Director, Department of Wildlife Conservation. HARRISBURG, PA., April 20, 1964. Chairman, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, House of Rep resentatives, Washington, D.C.: Early passage of refuge revenue sharing essential to wetlands acquistion program and future welfare of waterfowl resources. Urge enactment of legislation similar to S. 1363 including Metcalf option amendment. Your consideration of this important conservation legislation will be appreciated. M. J. GOLDEN, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Game Commission. CONCORD, N.H., April 20, 1964. Hon. T. A. THOMPSON, Chairman, House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee, House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: Referring to refuge revenue sharing proposals hearings scheduled April 22 and 23 urge enactment of legislation similar to S. 1363 including Metcalf option amendment. RALPH G. CARPENTER II, Director, Fish and Game Department. PIERRE, S. DAK., April 17, 1964. T. A. THOMPSON, House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee, Urgently recommend you give favorable consideration to legislation similar to S. 1363 with Metcalf option amendment. Wetland acquisition program cannot effectively function without such legislation. WALTER J. FILLMORE, Director, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. Representative T. A. THOMPSON, DOVER, DEL., April 20, 1964. Chairman, Subcommittee Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Delaware Game and Fish Commission is strongly in favor of S. 1363 including Metcalf option amendment or similar legislation. NORMAN G. WILDER, Director, Game and Fish Commission. T. A. THOMPSON, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, April 18, 1964. Chairman, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, Old House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: Respectfully urge your support of S. 1363 by Metcalf including option amendment. Hearings on same will be held April 22 and 23 by House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee. Passage essential to wetlands acquisition program as bill provides Federal refuge revenue sharing with counties where refuges located. HAROLD S. CRANE, Director, Utah Fish and Game. SPRINGFIELD, ILL., April 17, 1964. Hon. T. A. THOMPSON, We wish to urge to you the enactment of legislation similar Senate 1363 including Metcalf option amendment. Enactment of this type of legislation essential to operation of wetlands acquisition program. WILLIAM T. LODGE, Illinois Department of Conservation. LANSING, MICH., April 17, 1964. T. A. THOMPSON, Chairman, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.: Urge the enactment of refuge revenue sharing legislation as proposed in S. 1363 with Metcalf amendment, to provide county option in selecting plan for sharing revenues. Passage of S. 1363 is vital to success of emergency waterfowl wetlands acquisition program. GAYLORD A. WALKER, Acting Director, Michigan Department of Conservation. BOISE, IDAHO, April 20, 1964. Chairman THOMPSON, House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C.: Urge favorable consideration of legislation similar to S. 1363 including Metcalf option amendment. This vital to progress of waterfowl preservation program but safeguards local tax units. JOHN R. WOODWORTH, Director, Idaho Fish and Game Department. MADISON, WIS., April 21, 1964. Congressman T. A. THOMPSON, Hearings on refuge revenue sharing proposals scheduled April 22 and 23 by House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee. We appeal for your support of legislation similar to S. 1363, including Metcalf option amendment. Early passage essential to Federal wetlands acquisition which directly affects Wisconsin sportsmen. L. P. VOIGT, Conservation Director. Hon. T. A. THOMPSON, House Office Building, Washington, D.C.: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., April 16, 1964. Missouri Conservation Commission much interested in refuge revenue sharing proposals scheduled for hearings by House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee April 22 and 23. Early passage essential to wetlands acquisition for waterfowl. We urge enactment of legislation similar to S. 1363, including Metcalf option amendment. WILLIAM E. TOWELL, Director, Missouri Conservation Commission, Jefferson City, Mo. Chairman THOMPSON, AUGUSTA, MAINE, April 21, 1964. House Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Subcommittee, Respectfully urge your committee's favorable consideration legislation similar to S. 1363, including Metcalf option amendment. RONALD T. SPEERS, Commissioner Inland Fisheries and Game. OREGON DUCK HUNTERS ASSOCIATION, Re Senate bill 1363 on revenue sharing. Chairman, House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Get action on bill and give it a do-pass recommendation. A. R. OTT. OREGON DUCK HUNTERS ASSOCIATION, Hon, HERBERT BONNER, Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Respectfully request your support of S. 1363. Bringing this bill out of committee with a do-pass recommendation will greatly benefit wildlife conservation so urgently needed. WILLIAM R. BRAGG, Vice President. PORTLAND, OREG., April 20, 1964. Hon. HERBERT BONNER, Chairman, House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, The Multnomah Anglers & Hunters Club recognizes the financial needs of county governments and urge you give your full support to Senate bill 1363. the revenue sharing bill. We feel that Federal acquisition of refuge lands will provide an equitable solution to revenue sharing as provided for in Senate bill 1363. R. F. SCHILLINGER, Chairman, Small Game Committee, Multnomah Anglers & Hunters Club. PORTLAND, OREG., April 20, 1964. Hon. HERBERT BONNER, Chairman, House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, The Oregon Duch Hunters Association urge you to give your full support to Senate bill 1363, the revenue sharing bill. We recognize the financial needs of county governments and feel that 1363 will provide an equitable solution so far as Federal acquisition of refuge land are concerned. HENRY STEWART, President, Oregon Duck Hunters Association. |