Offshore drilling fees are financing the purchase of $41.6 million of new national forest lands in 15 states.
Offshore drilling fees are financing the purchase of $41.6 million of new national forest lands in 15 states.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday the 28 different purchases from North Carolina to Oregon will protect clean water and fish and wildlife habitat, absorb private inholdings within wilderness areas, and support outdoor recreation spending that contributes $14.5 billion annually to the economy.
The fund is paying $1.4 million to complete the purchase of 1,481 acres previously marketed for vacation home sites along the Imnaha River in northeastern Oregon and add them to the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Read more at the East Oregonian.
{biztweet}offshore drilling forest{/biztweet}
