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The sale of the Florida lands to the Water District would provide us 

 with more than $2.4 million for acquisition of inholdings within 

 existing National Wildlife Refuges in Florida. In this particular 

 case we will not object to the provisions of Section 4 on the use of 

 funds received. As a general rule, however, we have serious 

 reservations with the automatic earmarking of receipts from the sale 

 of Federal assets outside the budget and appropriation process. The 

 Administration is now reviewing this matter to determine what 

 conditions, if any, -might warrant Administration support of any 

 similar future proposals. Moreover, we suggest that te receipts be 

 deposited in the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The contributed 

 funds account is used for donations from non-Federal sources and is 

 not a proper account for receiving Federal receipts. 



We have surveyed the needs in Florida, and find pressing use for 

 this money at the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, on the 

 Central Gulf Coast, and at the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge in 

 the Florida Keys. The Lower Suwannee NWR ranks sixth nationally on 

 the Fish and Wildlife Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund 

 priority list. It is one of the most diverse and productive wildlife 

 areas in Florida. Six endangered and threatened species occupy the 

 area. It provides essential nursery and feeding habitat for the 

 Crystal River population of the manatee. The conversion of sizable 

 areas within the timbered swamp and upland forest habitat protected 

 by this Refuge is an imminent threat, with conversion to pine 

 monoculture already underway nearby. 



