FWS: Norton Announces Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Apportionments to States

“Both the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish and Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration accounts have passed the $5 billion mark,” said Norton. “That
means that since establishment of these crucial programs in 1950 and 1937
respectively, anglers and hunters have paid more than $10 billion for fish
and wildlife management. By supporting these excise taxes, sportsmen and
women are contributing critical funds for maintaining and restoring our
fish and wildlife resources.”

State agencies use the money to support conservation programs such as fish
and wildlife monitoring, habitat improvement, acquisition of land for
habitat conservation and species protection, research, education, and other
programs. The funds also help pay for hunter safety, aquatic education, and
fish and wildlife-related recreation projects. The funds are apportioned by
formula under the two Federal Assistance programs.

The Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2006 totals more than $233
million, with nearly $42 million going for hunter education and shooting
range programs.

The apportionment for Sport Fish Restoration for 2006 totals more than $290
million.

Wildlife Restoration funds are made available to states based on land area
(land plus inland waters, such as lakes and large rivers) and the number of
hunting license holders in each state. Distribution of hunter education
funds is based on the relative population of each state.

The Service distributes Sport Fish Restoration funds to the states based on
the land and water area (land plus inland water, plus the Great Lakes and
marine coastal areas) and the number of fishing license holders in each
state.

Federal Assistance funds pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of each
project while the states contribute at least 25 percent.

Wildlife Restoration is guided by the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Act of 1937 and is funded by the collection of excise taxes and
import duties on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. States use
these funds to manage wildlife populations, conduct habitat research,
surveys and inventories, and to administer hunter education programs.

Sport Fish Restoration is guided by the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish
Restoration Act of 1950 and is funded by the collection of excise taxes and
import duties on sport fishing equipment and tackle, motorboat and small
engine fuels and pleasure boats. States use Sport Fish Restoration program
funds to stock fish; acquire and improve sport fish habitat; provide
aquatic resource education opportunities; conduct fisheries research; and
construct boat ramps, fishing piers, and other facilities necessary to
provide recreational boating access.

Please visit the Service's Division of Federal Assistance web site at
http://federalaid.fws.gov for state-by-state funding allocations.

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 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 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 and Native American tribal governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

Secretary Norton Announces Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Apportionments to States; Both Accounts Pass $5 Billion Mark