Proposal to Continue Potomac American Heritage River Initiative (AHRI)

Briefing Statement

Bureau: National Park Service

Issue: Proposal to Continue Potomac American Heritage River Initiative (AHRI)

Park Site: National Capital Region /Potomac American Heritage River Initiative (MD, DC, WV, PA, VA)

Date: March 13, 2003

Background:   The American Heritage Rivers Initiative is designed to support community-led efforts across America that are working to revitalize their waterfronts and to enhance the historic, cultural, recreational, agricultural, public health, and environmental values of their rivers.

The American Heritage Rivers Initiative was announced in the 1997 State of the Union Address.  The Initiative was established by Presidential Executive Order 13061 of September 15, 1997.  It directed federal agencies, for a period of five-years, to establish and implement the initiative through more effective and better coordinated delivery of existing federal resources and through partnerships with state, local, and tribal governments and community and non-government organizations. 

In June 1998 the President designated 14 American Heritage Rivers, including the Potomac River, which was nominated by the Friends of the Potomac, a private nonprofit organization representing approximately 200 community organizations and governments.  The Potomac designation includes the entire river and its watershed, except for Hardy County, WV. The designations will generally be considered permanent unless termination of designation is sought.

The Initiative has three objectives: natural resource and environmental protection, economic revitalization, and historic and cultural preservation.

The AHRI is voluntary and locally driven.  Communities choose to participate and can terminate their participation at any time.

The term of focused, active assistance to designated rivers is limited to five years.  Federal agencies may continue to provide appropriate services as part of their ongoing activities after this time.

Implementation of the initiative on the Potomac began in 1998 by a federal interagency team and the Friends preparing a Memorandum of Understanding; a description of their roles and federal assistance; a position description for the River Navigator; performance measures to reflect the role of the River Navigator; and a designated sponsoring federal agency to lead the coordination of the federal resources and assist the River Navigator in his/her role.

The National Park Service was selected by the Friends as the lead-federal agency.  The Friends and NPS as the River Navigator selected Glenn Eugster, then an employee of EPA.  During the period of this assistance Mr. Eugster has either been the River Navigator or that person’s supervisor. 

The role of the River Navigator is to:

• Serve as a liaison between the community and the appropriate federal programs.
• Assist the community, if requested, in engaging the assistance of state, tribal, and local governments and private sector interests.
• Provide information services.
• Offer technical advice.
• Perform other duties as the community may request, consistent with the goals of the AHRI.
• Work with the community, while also having direct access to the principal staff of the sponsoring agency, including the representative on the Interagency Council.

Current Status: NPS-NCR has been providing services as the lead-federal agency since December 1998.  The services include providing for a River Navigator, grants to the Friends of the Potomac and their member organizations, and assistance through existing park and regional programs.  

Over the last four and one half years NPS has provided office space, administrative support, travel, and training for the River Navigator.  The River Navigator’s salary has been paid for by NPS (40%), FWS (40%) and EPA (10%).  NPS has provided approximately $200,000 in grants, and more than $200,000 in inkind services, to the Friends and their member organizations.  In addition, the Friends have worked with the delegation to secure more than $1,000,000 of federal funds through the EPA VA-HUD Appropriation.

In 2001 James L. Connaughton of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) wrote to the community partners and federal agencies involved in AHRI and indicated that commitments to this partnership would be continued until the end of the five-year period--July 30, 2003, after which time it will be up to the sponsoring federal agencies to decide whether to continue providing appropriate services as part of their ongoing activities.

In December 2001 NPS and the Friends of the Potomac entered into a new Cooperative Agreement for the Potomac AHRI and other activities.  It was agreed that AHRI assistance would be provided until June 30, 2003, after which time it will be up to NPS to decide whether to continue providing appropriate services as part of its ongoing activities. The other provisions of this Agreement remain in force until September 30, 2006, with the option to extend the agreement if both parties agree to do so.

On March 7, 2003 the Friends of the Potomac and the Potomac AHRI River Navigator were contacted by Assistant Secretary Scarlett’s Office and CEQ and asked for their recommendation as to whether the initiative should be continued for another five years.

The Friends of the Potomac and NPS indicated their support for continuing the initiative and the Friends sent a letter of support to Ms. Scarlett. A copy of that letter is attached.

On March 11, 2003 NCR indicated to Ms. Scarlett’s staff and CEQ that NPS will continue to support and assist the Potomac AHRI effort, within existing programs, if it is extended.  NCR suggested that another agency assume responsibility for being the lead-federal agency for the Potomac AHRI.   

NCR’s suggestion is based on the original assumption that the Initiative was to sunset in five years and after that period NPS could decide whether to continue our support or not.  Anticipating that this Initiative would end in June 2003, NPS has not planned funding or staff assistance to support the River Navigator, nor does NCR have the available resources to continue this effort.   Past, and recent, NCR requests for headquarters funding to assist this partnership effort have been unsuccessful. 

Summary: 

What is the Issue?  Should the American Heritage River Initiative be extended beyond its original schedule?  Should NPS continue to be the lead-federal agency for the Potomac AHRI?

What is the recommended decision?  The Initiative should be continued.  Another federal agency, within or outside of Interior, should be made the lead-federal agency for the Potomac AHRI.

What is the rationale for the recommended decision?  AHRI was intended to sunset in June 2003 and plans, agreements, and budgets for community assistance and the River Navigator’s salary were based on that understanding.  Extending the Potomac AHRI for another five years will require funds and a River Navigator position that are not currently budgeted. NPS-NCR does not have the time or money available to continue this effort for five more years.  Another agency may be in a better position to assume those expenses.  Other federal agencies were directed to provide assistance to this effort.

What are the pros and cons of the recommended decision? Continuing AHRI services will be an indication of federal support to river communities.  NPS is one of the favored federal agencies in the watershed and a leader in collaborative conservation.  A change in the lead-federal agency might be viewed as NPS abandoning this effort.  It will involve time to make a transition and form a new partnership with the Friends.

Who was involved in discussing the issue and recommendation?  Discussions involved the Lynn Brownley, Chairman of the Board and Dan Nees, the Executive Director of the Friends of the Potomac; Chris Kearney of Assistant Secretary Scarlett’s Office; Fred Fox, the Department’s Liaison to CEQ for the AHRI; Chris Brown, the NPS headquarters Liaison for AHRI; and NPS-NCR Regional Director Carlstrom.

Who is for the recommended decision?  The current River Navigator, Glenn Eugster, and NPS-NCR Regional Director Terry Carlstrom.

Who is against the recommended decision?  No one has expressed opposition to this recommendation.

Contact:  Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director (202) 619-7492