Capital area looking to get $50million grant in new conservation act

June 20, 12:39 PMAlexandria City Buzz ExaminerBarbara Maxwell

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Yesterday, at a local press conference in Founders Park along the Alexandria waterfront, Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA), along with leaders from key conservation organizations, announced the introduction of the "National Capital Region Land Conservation Act" which will create a new $50 million grant program that will fund land preservation efforts along the Potomac River in the Washington metropolitan area. The bill has received support from over 22 national, state, and local conservation and government organizations, as well as the entire regional congressional delegation.

The "National Capital Region Land Conservation Act" would amend the Capper-Cramton Act of 1930, authorizing appropriations of up to $50 million per year for cost share grants to State, regional and local governments. The funding would be used to acquire land in the greater Washington Metropolitan area (as defined by the US Census) for a variety of conservation, environmental and recreational purposes. The grant program would be administered by the US National Park Service, though the land would be held by local governments.

Moran´s bill would update the Capper-Cramton Act, enacted in 1930, which created the National Capital Planning Commission that authorized purchase of all the green space along both sides of the Baltimore Washington Parkway, the GW Parkway and Rock Creek Parkway.

Originally reported in the American Chronicle