Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke added some sweeteners to his conservation push Thursday by handing out $94 million to states from payments the agency collects from offshore oil and natural gas drillers.
Zinke suggested that the funding was a test of the administration’s pro-drilling policies that will seek to increase revenue to states as part of its energy dominance agenda.
“By advancing the administration’s offshore energy goals, we will be able to generate more revenue for the [land conservation] fund to improve conservation and recreation opportunities for generations to come,” Zinke said.
The funding came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund state grant program, which Zinke called “a resounding success” in making “physical investments in our communities.” The program benefits communities by assisting state and local governments in making infrastructure investments in urban, suburban and rural parks.
All 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia received grant money from the fund Thursday.
The biggest recipient is California with just over $8 million. The second largest recipient is Texas with $5.3 million, with hurricane-ravaged Florida coming in third at just over $4 million. Other big recipients included Pennsylvania and Ohio, which received $2.9 and $2.8 million, respectively.
By comparison, the Virgin Islands, which is reeling from a line of hurricanes, received about $75,000. Guam and American Samoa received about the same. The District of Columbia ranked near the bottom, but still fared better than the island territories in receiving just over $216,000.
Puerto Rico received $1.3 million from the fund.
