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If the legislation were passed with this provision intact we would 

 utilize $1.65 million to acquire 2,640 acres of wetlands there. This 

 would be in addition to the $1.5 million appropriated last year for 

 the lower Suwannee. 



In addition, there are several smaller tracts within the authorized 

 boundaries of the Key Deer Refuge facing the imminent threat of 

 development. This Refuge is designed to protect the habitat of the 

 endangered Key deer, although other endangered, threatened and 

 "special emphasis" species, including the manatee, the brown 

 pelican, the white-crowned pigeon, the osprey and the mangrove 

 cuckoo also utilize these areas. Habitat conversion for residential 

 development is the primary threat here, and escalating development 

 is blamed for a recent substantial drop in the deer population. 



Although $2 million was appropriated for acquisition at Key Deer NWR 

 last year, some smaller tiacts still need to be acquired and we 

 would propose to utilize the remaining $700,000 for this purpose. 



We are pursuaded that this legislation would represent a net benefit 

 for all parties. Nevada would receive much-needed environmentally 

 sound development, which will provide jobs and an expanded tax base; 

 Florida would receive an addition to its important water 

 conservation system; and both Florida and the nation would benefit 

 from the additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System. We 

 therefore support enactment of S. 854. 



