Six million dollars in Federal funds are being made available to state agencies for a major boost in fish and game conservation developments under the Accelerated Public Words program, Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall announced today. Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands also will share in the program,
“The money will make it possible for States to undertake hunting and fishing restoration projects or related betterments which otherwise would have been delayed indefinitely,” Secretary Udall said.
The money is provided through the recently inaugurated Accelerated Public Works Program which is reducing unemployment in certain areas throughout the United States.
Actual expenditure of funds will occur after individual State projects are cleared by the Area Redevelopment Administration and project agreements entered into between the Department of the Interior and each State game and fish department. On such approved projects, the Federal Government will bear up to 50 percent of the total cost. The remainder must come from State funds.
Today’s Federal allocations will revert to the Treasury and thus will not be available for expenditure after June 30, 0963. Unless they are obligated through an approved project agreement before then.
State fish and game departments may use the funds in areas of economic distress to construct capital improvements consistent with regulations of the Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration program. Eligible betterments include buildings, stream bank stabilization and improvement, development of water access areas, roads, public areas, habitat improvement, boat ramps, construction of public fishing lakes, and lake and stream renovation. Land acquisition will not be eligible.
Secretary Udall said the projects will provide employment while simultaneously creating lasting benefit for hunters and fishermen. They also will boost local economy, on a long-term basis through expenditures by hunters and fishermen for numerous items such as food, gasoline, and lodging, as well as hunting and fishing supplies and equipment. The distribution to States will be on the basis of number of unemployed persons and the number of unemployment areas in each State in relation to the total for the United States.
Secretary Udall and other officials of the Department of the Interior and from the Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service met in Washington D.C., November 19 and 20, 1962, with key State representatives to develop basic guidelines for this program. State fish and game directors attending the conference were Frank Groves of Nevada, President of the International Association of Game and Fish Commissioners; William Towell of Missouri, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Association; Harry Woodward of Colorado, Chairman of the Grants-In-Aid committee of the Association; and Bob Aldrich of Florida, past President of the Association. These State officials assisted in developing a statement of policies and procedures to govern the administration of the Accelerated Public Works Program and in developing a formula for apportioning funds to state fish and game departments.
The attached tabulation shows the allocation of funds.
Apportionment of Accelerated Public Works Funds for Federal Aid in Fish and Wildlife Restoration
Alabama $195,212
Alaska $86,766
Arizona $20,999
Arkansas $169,715
California $191,246
Colorado $35,043
Connecticut $71,650
Delaware $10,000
Florida $103,810
Georgia $212,961
Hawaii $14,250
Idaho $35,692
Illinois $ -- *
Indiana $152,637
Iowa $17,138
Kansas $21,251
Kentucky $249,201
Louisiana $176,217
Maine $59,108
Maryland $46,552
Massasschusetts $99,597
Michigan $522,170
Minnesota $85,082
Mississippi $208,564
Montana $41,439
Nebraska $41,439
Nevada $15,582
New Hampshire $14,055
New Jersey $210,113
New Mexico $65,187
New York $197,696
North Carolina$180,686
North Dakota $10,389
Ohio $163,698
Oregon $130,823
Pennsylvania $600,000
Rhode Island $60,565
South Carolina$92,070
South Dakota $12,888
Tennessee $183,061
Texas $213,382
Utah $45,382
Vermont $19,396
Virginia $48,441
Washington $77,850
West Virginia $231,103
Wisconsin $48,879
Wyoming $16,555
Guam $13,277
Puerto Rico $279,832
Virgin Islands $13,277
$6,000,000
*Illnois was apportioned $500,000 in an earlier allocation of Accelerated Public Works Funds.
