S1170NOV18

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending November 18, 2005

S.1170 An act to establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area.

BRIEF

The Congressional Budget Office reported that “S. 1170 would establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area on federal land in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Subject to valid existing rights, the bill would withdraw land within the proposed conservation area from programs to develop natural resources. The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan to manage that area and would authorize the Secretary to establish research centers and visitor facilities pursuant to that plan.

“Based on information from the Bureau of Land Management, CBO estimates that S. 1170 would not significantly affect the federal budget. According to the agency, the affected land currently generates no significant receipts and is not expected to do so over the next 10 years. Therefore, we estimate that the proposed withdrawal would not significantly affect offsetting receipts (a credit against direct spending). We further estimate that any costs incurred to develop a management plan for the area or to construct new facilities would not exceed $500,000 in any year, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Enacting S. 1170 would not affect revenues.”

Sponsor: Senator Pete V. Domenici (R-AZ)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent November 16, 2005

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.