CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia would get millions of dollars to fund national parks and educational programs under the version of a 2010 budget bill approved by the U.S. Senate, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., announced Tuesday.
Millions of dollars in funding for national parks is included in the new Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Byrd is the senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a member of its Interior subcommittee.
The national forest projects include:
| $5.3 million to Monongahela National Forest, most of which will go to buy the "Thunderstruck Property," adding 272 acres to the forest near the town of Harman. Another $1.5 million will go to improve roads throughout the forest.
| $1.63 million to the New River Gorge National River Park for construction work and land acquisition, including $500,000 for Camp Brookside, a youth center.
| $675, 000 to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park for needed upgrades and repairs.
| $500,000 to the Gauley River National Recreation Area to acquire more land to help rafters exit the river and to complete a network of rail trails for hiking.
| $500,000 to the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to build three bridges, an observation platform and a network of trails.
West Virginia, Byrd said, is "blessed with a natural and cultural heritage that we must work to preserve for future generations to enjoy.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia would get millions of dollars to fund national parks and educational programs under the version of a 2010 budget bill approved by the U.S. Senate, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., announced Tuesday.
Millions of dollars in funding for national parks is included in the new Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Byrd is the senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a member of its Interior subcommittee.
The national forest projects include:
| $5.3 million to Monongahela National Forest, most of which will go to buy the "Thunderstruck Property," adding 272 acres to the forest near the town of Harman. Another $1.5 million will go to improve roads throughout the forest.
| $1.63 million to the New River Gorge National River Park for construction work and land acquisition, including $500,000 for Camp Brookside, a youth center.
| $675, 000 to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park for needed upgrades and repairs.
| $500,000 to the Gauley River National Recreation Area to acquire more land to help rafters exit the river and to complete a network of rail trails for hiking.
| $500,000 to the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to build three bridges, an observation platform and a network of trails.
West Virginia, Byrd said, is "blessed with a natural and cultural heritage that we must work to preserve for future generations to enjoy.
"As we preserve, renovate, and restore these icons in our state, we enable the public to continue to access and explore these great treasures."
Byrd also secured funding for ongoing research and educational activities during the coming fiscal year, including:
| $1 million for the Wood Education and Resource Center in Princeton to protect hardwood forests and enhance forest products production.
| $750,000 for the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown.
| $750,000 for the Leetown Science Center for molecular biological research.
| $500,000 for the White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery for research to increase the propagation of freshwater mussels at its internationally recognized hatchery.
Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.
Post a comment