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nvironment News Service : Bipartisan Sen . . . Compromise Pledges $ 3 B for Conservation http : //ens . lycos . com/ens/jul2000/2000L-07- 17 -06 , htnid Mexico Democrat . " This is an important measure that will affect all people across the nation , from Little League players to farmers , from historic preservationists to urban park users , " said Murkowski . " We hope this agreement will make it possible to move the bill by Wednesday from our Committee to the Senate floor . " But Congress watchers warned that it could be at least September before the bill is heard by the full Senate , which is currently under a very tight schedule to pass all the fiscal year 2001 appropriations bills . The measure will cost about $ 3 billion a year , which is similar to the House bill . However , the Senate bill allocates money to different accounts , including some not in the House bill , that fund the Youth Conservation Corps , a Coastal Stewardship program , and a Coral Reef Program , The Senate bill puts $ 805 million into Coastal Impact Assistance and other coastal programs , and $ 900 million into the Land and Water Conservation Fund ( LWCF ) for federal land acquisition and a matching grants program for the states . That fund is divided in half with $ 450 million to the state side program and $ 450 million for federal lands . Senator Frank Murkowski ( Photo courtesy office of .._ { r the Senator ) ^ " This bill began as a way to remedy a tremendous f4w inequity in the distribution of revenues generated by offshore oil and gas production from the federal outer continental shelf ( OCS ) . While revenues are shared 50 - 50 if oil and gas are developed on public lands in a state , there is no sharing with development on the OCS , " said Murkowski . " This measure directs a portion of the OCS royalties and revenues to coastal states and communities who shoulder the responsibility for energy development off their coastlines . " President Clinton supports the compromise legislation . " We have before us an historic opportunity to build a truly enduring conservation endowment , " Clinton said . The bill would be the first to " provide permanent funding to protect critical lands across America , " he noted . Difficulties with the measure in the Senate committee have centered around objections to funds for acquiring public lands under the LWCF . " Western Senators with states that are predominantly owned by the federal government do not look kindly on a fund they believe will allow the government to add to its largess of land . I believe we address their concerns in this bill , " said Murkowski . " Lands acquired under CARA must be from willing sellers and must be approved by the Congress . The Department of the Interior will have no discretionary funds to spend on land acquisition . It all must be appropriated , and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources ^711 0 /n ArM 1 . A 7 DX 4