WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Bush Administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2006 budget request for the National Park Service is $2.2 billion, which includes $1.7 billion in funding for Operation of the National Park System. The funding for operations reflects a net increase of more than $50 million over the FY 2005 enacted level, demonstrating a strong commitment to sustaining visitor services, reducing the maintenance backlog, and accelerating partnership initiatives. It also strongly supports management reforms to strengthen public service and improve agency efficiency.

“The FY 2006 budget proposal for the National Park Service clearly reflects President Bush’s strong commitment to providing outstanding visitor services, improving recreational opportunities, and fulfilling stewardship responsibilities for preserving our natural and cultural treasures,” said NPS Director Fran Mainella. “This budget proposal will sustain the large increase in park base operations enacted in the FY 2005 budget, and ensure that we continue to enhance the experience of our visitors, and strengthen resource preservation and protection. The innovative management tools highlighted in this budget proposal also demonstrate how our employees, long known for being outstanding stewards of Nation’s heritage, are responsible stewards of the public’s money.”

The new asset management program, which is enabling NPS managers for the first time to determine the real condition of facilities in parks and identify and prioritize maintenance needs, is one of the most innovative efforts underway in the agency. Sound financial management decisions at the park level are being aided by a new park scorecard tool and by a pilot critical workforce analysis program. Improvements in information technology also are increasing efficiency in all areas of park and program management.

Highlights of the proposed FY 2006 budget include:

Visitor Services. A net increase of $50.5 million for Operation of the National Park System is provided to sustain the current high level of public service. Since the tragic events of 9/11, special attention also has been focused on security and protection at icon parks, such as the Statue of Liberty and the memorial core sites in Washington, D.C.
 

An increase of nearly $22 million over the FY 2005 enacted level is requested for park base operations. Park base funding has risen nearly $150 million or 16 percent since FY 2001. The largest portion of this increase, $82 million (54 percent), will have occurred in the past two budget years, assuming enactment of the President’s request for FY 2006. These increases will enable parks to continue interpretive ranger programs, staffing at visitor centers, daily maintenance activities, and other programs designed to enhance visitor services.
 

The NPS Maintenance Backlog. More than $1.1 billion is proposed in the FY 2006 budget to address the maintenance backlog. If enacted, this funding fulfills the President’s commitment to provide $4.9 billion over five years for maintenance backlog reduction. Over 4,000 infrastructure and facility improvement projects have been carried out, and visitors are experiencing improvements in trails, campgrounds, visitor centers, historic structures, and environmental conditions.
 

Under this proposed budget, facility maintenance and construction would receive $716.6 million, a $29 million increase over FY 2005. Another $108 million for facility projects is anticipated from fee receipts. Construction will be funded at $324 million for projects addressing high priority health, safety, and resource protection needs. Examples of these kinds of projects include $7.9 million for Phase 1 to rehabilitate the historic Paradise Inn and Annex in Mount Rainier National Park, Wash.; $6.6 million for Phase 1 to replace the water distribution systems in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nev.; $4.1 million to replace the Madison wastewater facilities in Yellowstone National Park, Mont., Idaho, Wyo.; $4.8 million to rehabilitate and remodel the Panorama Visitor Center in Shenandoah National Park, Va.; $758,000 for removing hazardous materials and correcting fire exit deficiencies at Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier National Park, Mont., and $1.8 million to rehabilitate the Great Falls Visitor Center, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Va. and Md.
 

An increase of $3.4 million is also requested for the Repair and Rehabilitation Program to address high-priority historic buildings and structures in small historical parks. The cyclic maintenance program is sustained at $62.8 million.
 

The President’s Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21) reauthorization proposal includes a request for $320 million to improve road conditions of park roads and parkways. This funding request would nearly double the existing funding of $165 annually under current law.
 

Partnership Initiatives. In the FY 2006 proposal, $12.5 million is requested for Preserve America grants to help communities around the Nation preserve and develop historic and cultural sites for heritage tourism. This budget request also includes $12.8 million, reflecting an increase of $5.4 million, to fund the NPS challenge cost share program, which provides grants requiring a one-to-one or better match in funds, to support partnerships for natural resource restoration as well as more traditional cost share projects to improve visitor services. This challenge cost share program is one of several cooperative conservation programs within the Interior Department to leverage resources and achieve results through the power of partnerships.
 

Law Enforcement. The FY 2006 request includes $80 million to fund law enforcement activities and programs of the U.S. Park Police, the law enforcement organization charged with providing security at protected sites around Washington, D.C.; New York City, N.Y., and San Francisco, Calif.
 

Natural Resource Stewardship. The FY 2006 budget proposal would provide an additional $4.9 million to establish the final 8 of 32 networks throughout the National Park System, to identify the “Vital Signs” (measurable naturally occurring features) of 270 parks. Inventory and monitoring networks group parks sharing similar geographic and natural resource characteristics. These networks share and coordinate fieldwork, staff, equipment, and business practices leading to successful new partnerships with universities and researchers through Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units and Research Learning Centers. This system of networks enables park managers to apply good science to resource management to maintain and restore the extraordinary natural heritage found in national parks.
 

Land Acquisition. A total of $54.5 million is requested for Federal land acquisition. The 2006 request includes funding for purchasing land in newly established parks, such as the Flight 93 National Memorial, Pa.; Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Ore.; and the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, D.C. This funding also would be used for preservation of Civil War battlefield sites outside the National Park System.
 

Everglades Restoration. The NPS request for FY 2006 includes $25 million for the Modified Water Deliveries Project, a key to restoration of natural flows in the Everglades. The NPS contribution consists of $8 million in new funding and $17 million redirected from unobligated balances for Everglades land acquisition that are not considered high-priority. Under a new agreement between the Interior Department and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the cost to complete the project will be shared by NPS and the Corps. The 2006 budget request for the Corps includes $35 million for the Modified Water Deliveries Project.
 

Presidential Management Agenda. The NPS remains committed to the President’s Management Agenda. Funding is proposed for information technology improvements, security enhancements, strengthening financial management, and performance budgeting. Management reform actions are expected to produce savings of approximately $4 million to be used to address higher priorities such as visitor services.