Young introduces major conservation-oil revenue legislation

Rep. Don Young has introduced legislation that would give Alaska a big slice of federal oil revenues and buy land for parks around the country.

The federal government earns about $4 billion from its offshore oil and gas programs. That bulk of that money flows into the federal treasury to be spent as Congress sees fit. Young’s bill would take 60 percent, or about $2.4 billion a year, and earmark it for the states. All coastal states would get some returns from the proceeds, but Alaska and such gulf states as Louisiana would get larger shares.

Alaska would pick up around $120 million a year.

The measure also would direct about $900 million a year to buy lands for additions to federal, state and local parks and preserves. Another $300 million would go into federal and state programs to rebuild wildlife populations.

“This is probably the most important piece of conservation legislation that will be passed in this decade,” Young said Feb. 11 at a press conference.

Young’s bill is drawing bipartisan support as well as the backing of environmentalists — who usually are critical of the Alaska Republican for his strong support of conservative causes.

At the other end of the spectrum, private property defenders said they are fiercely opposed to the provision that would spin off nearly $1 billion annually to buy land for federal, state and local parks. Until this legislation, Young had been a faithful ally, said Myron Ebell, policy director at Frontiers of Freedom.