House and Senate members were appointed to a conference committee to iron out the differences between the House bill, TEA-LU – H.R 3, and the Senate bill, SAFETEA – S. 732. According to America Bikes, after a good deal of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the group of Representatives and Senators met formally on June 9th but are now struggling to reach a consensus.

The total dollar amount of funding appears to be the main stumbling block with House Republicans following the White House lead and pushing for a $284 billion bill, while Senators want a compromise between that and the $295 billion allocated in SAFETEA. America Bikes stated that any more detailed negations – like the distribution of funds to the recreation trails program, Fair Share for Safety, and other enhancement efforts – will be stalled.

In other government news, OIA is reporting that the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee voted to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program at $30 million, far below the $91.2 million requested during the recent Capital Summit (See BOSS_0516). While the funding is disappointing, it is a considerable improvement over the House of Representatives recommendation of no funding.

Finally, The Access Fund is fighting a battle against Arizona’s Senator Kyl and Congressman Renzi. The two officials introduced identical land exchange bills into Congress, which benefit Resolution Copper Company (RCC). This will allow the mining company to destroy the publicly-owned Oak Flat area East of Phoenix resulting in the single largest loss of a climbing destination ever.

“These bills value the profits of a foreign mining company and discount a more responsible approach to environmental, as well as the recreational and health concerns of Arizonans and the many others who recreate at Oak Flat. Despite many promises of compromise these bills will allow RCC to push ahead with the destruction of Oak Flat and surrounding areas if they are passed,” says Jason Keith, policy director at the Access Fund.

The Access Fund and Friends of Queen Creek have consistently pushed for responsible mining techniques at Oak Flat that will allow RCC to make a profit while still maintaining some public access to Oak Flat and environs. The Access Fund is asking Congressional representatives to require Resolution Copper Company to work with the Access Fund and Friends of Queen Creek to mitigate the loss of the unique public recreational resource at Oak Flat.

“Over the next several weeks Congress needs to be convinced to specifically address this enormous loss to the climbing community, the environment, and other recreational users,” said Keith.