The funds are distributed through preliminary apportionments under two Federal Aid programs administered by the Interior Departments U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"For more than 50 years, hunters and fishermen have footed the lions share of the bill for our Nations conservation efforts, contributing to fish and wildlife projects in all 50 states," Lujan said.
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act), signed in 1937, and the Federal Aid in Sports Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson Act), signed in 1950, collectively have raised more than $2.2 billion.
"The money these sportsmen and -women pay in taxes is vital to ensuring future generations of Americans get the same chance to enjoy the great outdoors and the majesty of nature as we do today," said Service Director John Turner.
The funds are distributed to the states for projects proposed by the states and approved by the Service. Federal Aid funds pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of each project while the states contribute at least 25 percent of the cost.
The preliminary apportionment for wildlife restoration and hunter education programs for fiscal year 1993 totals $94,600,000. The money is derived from an 11-percent excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, a 10-percent tax on pistols and revolvers, and an 11-percent tax on certain archery equipment. One-half of the tax on handguns and archery equipment is made available for state hunter education programs.
The preliminary apportionment for sport fish restoration for fiscal year 1993 totals $147,500,000. The funding results from a 10-percent excise tax on fishing equipment and a 3-percent tax on electric trolling motors and sonar fish finders. The "Wallop-Breaux" legislation of 1984 increased the tax base for sport fish restoration to include a portion of the Federal fuels tax and import duties on fishing tackle and pleasure boats
Distribution of sport fish restoration funds to the states is based on the land and water area and the number of fishing license holders in each state. Wildlife restoration funds are made available based on land area and the number of hunting license holders in each state. Distribution of hunter education funds is based on the relative population of each state.
The attached tables show the allocation of the preliminary apportionment for fiscal year 1993. Final apportionments will be announced following final receipt of revenues due during the last quarter of fiscal year 1992.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
