Mr. KIRWAN. $700,000 is requested to repair damage caused by flash floods and excessive rainfall to 11 wildlife refuges this year. We will insert the item from the House document and the justifications in the record. (The documents referred to follow :) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE CONSTRUCTION "For an additional amount for 'Construction', $700,000." Flash floods and excessive rainfall have caused $905,000 damage to 13 wildlife refuges this year. This proposed supplemental appropriation will finance rehabilitation work which must be completed this year to avoid further damage and resulting increased repair costs. An amount of $700,000 is requested for rehabilitation of facilities at 11 wildlife refuges which were damaged by flash floods and excessive rainfall in the spring of 1964, and the recent record flood in the Missouri River Basin. JUSTIFICATION 2. Wildlife facilities, $700,000 (a) Wildlife refuges, $700,000.-This supplemental estimate is being submitted for rehabilitation of facilities at 11 national wildlife refuges which were damaged by flash floods and excessive rainfall in the spring of 1964, and the recent record flood in the Missouri River Basin which is now known as the 100-Year Flood. Facilities damaged include dikes, levees, fences, roads, bridges, buildings, and crop and haylands. Repair of these facilities is essential to prevent the impairment of operations and to restore valuable habitat for nesting, feeding, and wintering of an important segment of the migratory waterfowl population as well as grouse, doves, antelope, deer, etc. The present state of the facilities is such that prompt repair is essential to prevent further damage. Increased costs will also result even from normal rainfall. 1965 appropriations are not sufficient to cover these costs without an adverse effect on the program. The damage by refuge covered by this estimate is as follows: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama, $15,000.-On March 14, 1964, this refuge experienced rainfall of up to 6 inches in a short period of time. The result was flash flooding along the numerous streams which cross the road system on the refuge. In these low lying areas, roads were severely eroded and bridges and culverts were shifted out of position. These roads are essential to the management and operation of the refuge as they provide access to farming areas and are used by the public for various recreational pursuits. An amount of $15,000 is required for repair of damaged roads. Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas, $100,000.-High water levels during March 1964, substantially weakened the bridge at refuge headquarters which crosses the drainage ditch, to the extent that it is unsafe to use. Until this bridge is replaced, it will be necessary that all equipment used in the farming program be transported completely around the refuge to the east entrance, which necessitates excess travel of 8 miles. Also, the gated culverts on the levee, as well as the levee, were damaged. Required are the replacement and repair of the culverts and levee and a major control structure. The levee is essential to the exclusion of excessive flood waters from Wapanocca Lake. The water control structure will permit the control of water levels as needed for management purposes. A summary follows: Replace bridge___. Repair levee and construct water control structure___ Total_____ $55,000 45, 000 100,000 Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, California, $11,000.-This important refuge provides nesting habitat for Canada geese and ducks and food and protection for migrating waterfowl. Recent floodwaters topped the dam and washed out an abutment, which must be replaced. The high waters filled up the storage reservoir and washed out the refuge distribution system. A breakdown of the estimated costs is as follows: Replace water control structure__ Repair 6 miles of canals, ditches, and 10 diversion structures--- Total $7,800 3, 200 11,000 St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, $69,000.-Excessive rainfall has caused unusually high water levels in the East River and Stoney Bayou impoundments. Most of the damages resulted when 9.5 inches of rain fell within a 26hour period on April 27-28, and an additional 5.1 inches on June 6, 1964. Abnormal water pressures plus the erosion which occurred when excessive waters were released, have undermined major control structures. The large impoundments are managed for the production of aquatic vegetation suitable for waterfowl and support large concentrations of ducks, geese, coots, and other water birds. Unless these structures are repaired to prevent loss of water, it will not be possible to maintain water levels needed for management purposes during critical drought periods. Four miles of dikes on the Stoney Bayou farm unit and 51⁄2 miles of roads were also damaged. The dikes in the Stoney Bayou farm unit are used to keep floodwaters off the farmlands and to control water levels around the farm unit. A breakdown of the estimated repair and replacement costs is as follows: Total____ $50,000 6, 000 13, 000 69,000 Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, $10,000.-Heavy rainfall during the first 4 months of this year has caused spot erosion and washouts on newly constructed roads and dams. Immediate repairs are essential to avoid continued damage and more costly repairs. Roads are used for patrol, timber harvest, as well as access in connection with public hunts and other recreational pursuits. Repair of roads____ $10,000 Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, $50,000.—On April 18, 1964, floodwaters of the Savannah River overflowed the refuge causing heavy damages to the refuge dike system. Floodwaters topped these dikes causing severe erosion which must be repaired. The dike system is necessary to keep waters from the management pools and croplands in order that waterfowl food plants, both aquatic and agricultural, can be provided. Replacement of water control structure pool No. 1---- Total______ $10,000 40, 000 50,000 Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota, $15,000.-Excessive rains totaling 7.78 inches during the period June 8 to 26, 1964, with resultant abnormal runoff and excessive flooding, resulted in severely eroding 3.2 miles of dikes and 3.2 miles of roadway, with three water control structures undermined and riprap washed out. Dikes and structures must be rebuilt and riprap replaced to restore waterfowl production pools and prevent further damage to facilities which would occur as a result of normal summer storms. Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi, $30,000.-Flash floods due to excessive rainfall during the period March 13 to 15, 1964, caused three serious washouts of the new levee of Green Tree Reservoir No. 3. These were new dikes on which emergent aquatics had not yet been fully established to protect the fresh dirt from erosion. Erosion on this levee ranges from 1% to 4 feet. In order to make this reservoir useful to wildlife, water manipulation must be accomplished during certain seasons of the year. Green Tree Reservoirs are the key to attracting large duck populations to the refuge. Unless the damages are repaired prior to this coming fall, it will not be possible to maintain proper water levels. Also, the road leading to Green Tree Reservoir No. 4, the Keaton Tower Road, and the roads in compartment 13 sustained heavy damage. These roads are utilized not only for public use and management purposes, but also for timber harvest. Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Montana, $74,000.-Unprecedented rainfall early in May and again in June 1964, resulted in severe damage to dikes, water control structures and spillways. Water impounded in Lake Creek Valley was suddenly released when highway crossings fill broke and the wall of water topped and breached one dike and caused severe erosion to two dikes, spillways and water control structures on the refuge. Surface waters flowing into Lake Creek channel desposited excessive silt which must be removed since uniform grades are necessary in this 6 miles of channel used to convey water to the refuge. The above must be repaired for normal operation of this valuable refuge. A breakdown of the estimated repair and replacement costs follows: 10,850 cubic yards fill and riprap replacement_ Repair of 30 structures- Total____. $15,000 59,000 74, 000 Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Range, Montana, $316,000.-The recent record flood, now known as the "100-Year Flood," of the Missouri River Basin has resulted in extensive damage to facilities and crop and hay lands at the Charles M. Russell Range. Water from the upper drainage basin in Glacier Park inundated the bottom lands on the refuge. The damages must be repaired and facilities replaced to prevent further damage and losses from future high waters. It is important that this cropland be restored at the earliest possible date for migrating waterfowl this fall. Rehabilitation of the roads and crossings is essential to permit the resumption of routine maintenance, patrol, and management work on this 575,000-acre game range. Restoration or replacement of the fencing is necessary to prevent excessive damage to rangelands as a result of uncontrolled livestock grazing. A breakdown of the estimated repair and replacement costs follows: 15 miles of road repair and resurfacing 27 miles of fence repair/replacement-- Repair or replacement of 6 buildings, barns and sheds- Total---- $70,000 26, 000 10,000 10, 000 200, 000 316, 000 Santee National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina, $10,000.—Water levels on Lake Marion have been above normal due to extreme rainfall during February through April and flash floods from heavy rainfall on January 11, March 10, and April 8, 1964. The high lake levels have caused erosion on refuge facilities including Jacks Creek and Potato Creek subimpoundments. Also, 3 miles of roads on the Bluff unit and the protective dike on Pine Island were damaged. These roads are essential in connection with the refuge waterfowl development activities. Repair of dike erosion_. Repair 3 miles roads_--- Total____ $7,500 2,500 10, 000 Mr. KIRWAN. Your general statement will be made a part of the record at this point. (The statement referred to follows:) GENERAL STATEMENT OF LANSING A. PARKER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss the 1965 supplemental budget estimate for the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The supplemental estimate of $700,000 for the construction appropriation is a result of flash floods and excessive rainfall this spring and the recent record flood in the upper Missouri River Basin which damaged facilities at 11 wildlife refuges. Immediate repair of these facilities is essential to prevent the impairment of operations and to restore valuable habitat for the migratory waterfowl population as well as grouse, doves, antelope, deer, and other upland game. Even normal rainfall will further damage these facilities and increase costs if they are not repaired promptly. Presently available funds are not sufficient to cover the costs of these repairs. Mr. KIRWAN. Highlight how this $700,000 would be used. Mr. PARKER. These would be used on 11 refuges to repair flood damage. Most of it will be spent to rehabilitate the dikes and roads and some of the dams and bridges that have been washed out. At the Charles Russell game range in Montana there will be considerable rehabilitation of croplands. POLICY ON SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATES Mr. KIRWAN. I do not see any reason why these supplements are coming up here at this time. I mean that in all sincerity. Mr. PARKER. As to the supplement to the construction appropriation, I would point out there is about $1.4 million in the 1965 budget. The storm damages are estimated at $700,000, so it is almost half of our 1965 budget. Mr. KIRWAN. It used to be the policy to take care of these emergencies within available funds. We just finished appropriating over $600 million to the Department in the regular 1965 bill; yet we now have a series of last minute requests, and there is no reason why many of them couldn't be deferred until the next regular bill. The emergencies should be handled with available funds. Congress is very busy trying to wind up its affairs and yet we get these last minute items. Some were submitted to Congress less than an hour ago. How can we carefully review and consider these under these conditions? Many of these requests could have been submitted weeks or months ago. I will serve notice that next year if I am here when these supplements come up it will be a different story. I am tired of being called in here to preside over these last minute rush requests. Any questions? Mrs. HANSEN. No. I wondered why the pesticide item was not requested in the regular bill. Mr. PARKER. This implements an agreement signed in April between the three Departments. Mrs. HANSEN. But didn't you anticipate this was going to happen? The regular bill didn't pass until the end of June. Mr. PARKER. This is much later than when we made the estimate last September and October. Mrs. HANSEN. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Mr. KIRWAN. Mr. Harrison, any questions? Mr. HARRISON. Yes. This amount you are asking for is for fiscal year 1965? Mr. PARKER. Yes, sir. Mr. HARRISON. And it is a supplemental? Mr. PARKER. Yes. Mr. HARRISON. And the fiscal year 1965 only started about a month ago. Mr. PARKER. That is right. Mr. HARRISON. And you are up here now asking for a supplemental when barely a month of the fiscal year has expired. It seems to me you have enough money to operate on and the proper time to come up for a supplemental is maybe when Congress convenes next year and you find yourself short of money, but I don't like this business of coming up with a supplemental within a period of a month except for emergency items which are really emergency items and nothing else. Mr. PARKER. I can say, sir, these are emergency items in the case of the $900,000. These are funds we anticipated we would get from oil revenues and the court has declared we are no longer entitled to that. We are appealing the court decision. Mr. HARRISON. Does this request include additional employees? Mr. PARKER. In the $700,000, that is entirely storm damages. In the $1,050,000, the $900,000 involves no new employees. Mr. HARRISON. It does not include any new employees? Mr. PARKER. Eight in pesticides registration. Mr. HARRISON. Will they be permanent or temporary employees? Mr. PARKER. They will be permanent. Mr. HARRISON. I cannot go along with that because if this is an emergency you would only spend it during the emergency, and if you are putting on new permanent employees I think you are going far beyond an emergency relief measure. Mr. PARKER. I would point out, sir, that this pesticide review of applications is something that is going on all the time. The sooner we can get to reviewing the applications the less trouble we will have later on. |