"These revenues will be used for projects ranging from land acquisition for wildlife to construction projects for public hunting and fishing areas," Lujan said. "This will help achieve President Bushs goals of creating new recreational opportunities and generating dollars for local economies."
The revenues are made available to the states through Interiors U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
A total of $353,400,000 is the final apportionment for fiscal year 1992 under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson program after its Congressional sponsors, and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, often called the Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux program. Excise taxes collected from manufacturers and importers of angling and hunting equipment are paid to the U.S. Department of Treasury and then transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for distribution to the states.
"Hunters and anglers have long been the backbone of the American conservation movement," said Mike Hayden, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. "They were the first to provide major financial support for this Nations wildlife conservation programs through special taxes on hunting and fishing equipment."
Fish and Wildlife Service Director John Turner said, "Through the years, this Federal Aid funding has been the key to the success of an extraordinary number of fish and wildlife conservation projects at the state level. In essence, this years final apportionment means hunters and anglers have indirectly donated over $350 million to help restore and maintain our Nations fish and wildlife resources."
The apportionment for sport fish restoration for fiscal year 1992 totals $202.8 million. This funding results from a 10 percent excise tax on fishing equipment and a 3 percent tax on electric trolling motors and sonar fish finders. In addition, the "Wallop-Breaux" legislation of 1984 increased the tax base for sport fish restoration to include a portion of the Federal motorboat fuels tax and import duties on fishing tackle and pleasure boats.
The apportionment for wildlife restoration and hunter education programs for fiscal year 1992 totals $150.6 million. This money results 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 available for state hunter education programs.
The Federal Aid Program allows states to set priorities and develop projects based on their own wildlife resource needs. Up to 75 percent of every Sport Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration project is funded through these apportioned excise taxes while the remaining 25 percent is funded through state matching funds.
Also, in fiscal year 1992, $9 million will be used to fund hunter education and safety programs. These programs for beginning hunters teach safe handling of firearms and archery equipment, respect for wildlife, ethical outdoor behavior, wilderness survival, and how to avoid hunting accidents. To date, over 20 million hunters, about 700,000 per year, have graduated from state hunter education programs.
Hayden added, "The Fish and Wildlife Service has long been an advocate of safe outdoor recreation, especially when it comes to hunting. By making hunter education a priority, we are helping to ensure a safer, more enjoyable outdoor experience." Statistics indicate that since 1970, hunting accidents have decreased by 41 percent.
The attached tables show the allocation of the final apportionments for 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
