Congress Approves 3% Hike for Park Service Construction
The National Park Service's construction budget would gain a modest increase in fiscal 2004 under a spending bill that has received final congressional approval. The Interior Dept. appropriations measure, which the Senate passed Nov. 3 and the House approved Oct. 30, provides $334 million for Park Service construction, up 3% from 2003. The bill also raises the park maintenance account 9%, to $567 million.
Among the larger items in the construction account are: $15 million for a security barrier at the Washington Monument; $13 million for a water system at Everglades National Park; and $13 million for Elwha River restoration at Olympic National Park in Washington state; and $7 million for rehabilitation at Acadia National Park in Maine.