.
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:
FY2016 Appropriations in Brief
Carol Hardy Vincent
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
June 5, 2015
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R44061
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Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations in Brief
Summary
The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill includes funding for most of
the Department of the Interior (DOI) and for agencies within other departments—including the
Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture and the Indian Health Service within the
Department of Health and Human Services. It also provides funding for the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), arts and cultural agencies, and numerous other entities.
For FY2016, the President requested $33.32 billion for the approximately 30 agencies and entities
typically funded in the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations law.
For the 10 major DOI agencies in Title I of the bill, the request was $12.09 billion, or 36.3% of
the total requested. For EPA, funded by Title II of the bill, the request was $8.59 billion, or 25.8%
of the total. For about 20 agencies and other entities typically funded in Title III of the bill, the
request was $12.65 billion, or 38.0% of the total.
The President’s request of $33.32 billion would be an increase of $2.85 billion (9.3%) compared
to the total FY2015 enacted appropriation of $30.48 billion, including $372.0 million for the
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. However, the FY2016 request would be an increase
of $3.22 billion (10.7%) above FY2015 appropriations of $30.11 billion, excluding the PILT
funding. While the President’s total request included a proposed $1.05 billion disaster relief cap
adjustment to the discretionary spending limits in law, the FY2015 enacted appropriation did not
include a disaster relief cap adjustment.
Under the President’s proposal, the total for each of the three titles of the bill would increase by
varying amounts over FY2015. DOI agencies would receive an increase of $994.3 million
(9.0%), funding for EPA would increase by $451.8 million (5.6%), and the total for all Related
Agencies in Title III would increase by $1.40 billion (12.4%).
In current dollars (not adjusted for inflation), the appropriations enacted for Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies over the prior nine fiscal years (FY2007-FY2015) peaked in
FY2009 at $38.79 billion. This was because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5) provided an additional $10.95 billion in stimulus funding for Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies for FY2009. Relative to FY2007, FY2015 enacted
appropriations were $3.08 billion (11.2%) higher in current dollars.
In constant dollars (adjusted for inflation), appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies during the nine-year period peaked in FY2009 at $42.49 billion. Relative to FY2007,
FY2015 appropriations were about $516 million (1.7%) lower in constant dollars.
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Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Overview of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies ............................................................. 1
Title I. Department of the Interior ............................................................................................. 1
Title II. Environmental Protection Agency ................................................................................ 3
Title III. Related Agencies ......................................................................................................... 3
FY2016 Appropriations ................................................................................................................... 4
Components of the FY2016 President’s Request ...................................................................... 4
FY2016 President’s Request Compared with FY2015 Enacted Appropriations ....................... 6
History (FY2007-FY2015) .............................................................................................................. 9
Figures
Figure 1. Components of the President’s FY2016 Request for Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies .......................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 2. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Enacted Appropriations for
FY2007-FY2015, in Current (Nominal) and Constant (Inflation-Adjusted) Dollars ................. 11
Figure 3.Enacted Appropriations by Title for FY2007-FY2015, in Current (Nominal) and
Constant (Inflation-Adjusted) Dollars ........................................................................................ 11
Tables
Table 1. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations Requested
by the President Compared with FY2015 Enacted Appropriations .............................................. 7
Table 2. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2007-FY2015 Enacted
Appropriations in Current Dollars .............................................................................................. 10
Table 3. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2007-FY2015 Enacted
Appropriations in Constant Dollars ............................................................................................ 10
Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 12
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... 12
Key Policy Staff ............................................................................................................................. 12
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Introduction
This report focuses on FY2016 appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. It
presents a brief overview of the appropriations requested by the President for FY2016 for
agencies in the bill. It also briefly compares the FY2016 requested appropriations with
appropriations enacted for FY2015. Finally, it provides the appropriations enacted for the bill for
the last nine years (FY2007-FY2015) in current dollars (not adjusted for inflation) and constant
dollars (adjusted for inflation).
Appropriations are complex. For example, budget justifications for requests for some agencies are
large, numbering several hundred pages and containing numerous funding, programmatic, and
legislative changes for congressional consideration. Further, appropriations laws provide funds
for numerous accounts, activities, and subactivities, and the accompanying explanatory
statements provide additional directives and other important information. This report does not
provide account- and subaccount-level information. Further, it does not discuss the highlights of
the President’s request for each agency in the bill, such as proposed increases, decreases,
budgetary reorganizations, and legislative changes. For information on FY2016 requested
appropriations for a particular agency or for individual accounts, programs, or activities
administered by a particular agency, contact the key policy staff listed at the end of this report.1
Overview of Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies
The annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill2 includes funding for
agencies and programs in three separate federal departments as well as numerous related
agencies. The Interior bill typically contains three primary titles. Title I provides funding for most
Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies,3 many of which manage land and other natural
resource or regulatory programs. Title II contains appropriations for the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). Title III funds about 20 agencies in other departments, such as the Forest Service
in the Department of Agriculture and the Indian Health Service in the Department of Health and
Human Services; arts and cultural agencies, such as the Smithsonian Institution; and various other
entities. Title III of the bill is referred to as “Related Agencies.” Selected major agencies in the
Interior bill are briefly described below.
Title I. Department of the Interior
The mission of DOI is to protect and manage the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage,
provide scientific and other information about those resources, and honor its trust responsibilities
1 In addition, for selected reports related to appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, see the
Congressional Research Service (CRS) website at http://www.crs.gov/pages/subissue.aspx?cliid=2346&parentid=73&
preview=False.
2 Hereinafter this bill is sometimes referred to as the Interior bill.
3 The exceptions are the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project, which receive appropriations through
Energy and Water Development Appropriations laws. For information on FY2016 appropriations for these entities, see
CRS Report R43966, Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations, by Mark Holt.
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or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities.4
DOI agencies funded in the Interior bill5 that carry out this mission include the following:
• The Bureau of Land Management administers about 245 million acres of public
land, mostly in the West, for diverse uses such as energy and mineral
development, livestock grazing, recreation, and preservation. The agency is also
responsible for about 700 million acres of federal subsurface mineral estate
throughout the nation and supervises the mineral operations on about 56 million
acres of Indian Trust lands.
• The Fish and Wildlife Service administers the National Wildlife Refuge System,
consisting of 89 million acres of federal land, of which 77 million acres (86%)
are in Alaska. It also manages several large marine refuges and marine national
monuments, sometimes jointly with other federal agencies. It is the primary
agency responsible for implementing the Endangered Species Act (through
listing of species; consulting with other federal agencies; collaborating with
private entities and state, tribal, and local governments; and through other
measures), promoting wildlife habitat, enforcing federal wildlife laws, supporting
wildlife and ecosystem science, conserving migratory birds, administering grants
to aid state fish and wildlife programs, and coordinating with state, international,
and other federal agencies on fish and wildlife issues.
• The National Park Service administers the National Park System—407 diverse
units covering 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S.
territories. Roughly two-thirds of the system’s lands are in Alaska. The National
Park Service has a dual mission—to preserve unique resources and to provide for
their enjoyment by the public. The agency also supports and promotes some
resource conservation activities outside the Park System through grant and
technical assistance programs and cooperation with partners.
• The U.S. Geological Survey is a science agency that provides physical and
biological information related to geological resources, climate change, and
energy, mineral, water, and biological sciences and resources. In addition, it is the
federal government’s principal civilian mapping agency and a primary source of
data on the quality of the nation’s water resources.
• The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management manages development of the nation’s
offshore conventional and renewable energy resources in the Atlantic, the Pacific,
the Gulf of Mexico, and the Arctic. These resources are in areas covering
approximately 1.7 billion acres located beyond state waters, mostly in the Alaska
region (more than 1 billion acres) but also off all coastal states.
• The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement provides regulatory and
safety oversight for resource development in the Outer Continental Shelf. Among
4 This statement is taken from the DOI website at http://www.doi.gov/whoweare/mission-statement.cfm.
5 In addition, Interior appropriations bills provide funding within two broad DOI accounts covering diverse programs.
The Departmental Offices account funds the Office of the Secretary (including the Office of Natural Resources
Revenue), Insular Affairs, Office of the Solicitor, Office of Inspector General, and Office of Special Trustee for
American Indians. The Department-Wide Programs account funds DOI Wildland Fire Management, Central Hazardous
Materials Fund, Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, and Working Capital Fund. FY2015 appropriations for
the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program are also shown with this account.
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its responsibilities are oil and gas permitting, facility inspections, environmental
compliance, and oil spill response planning.
• The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement works with states
and tribes to reclaim abandoned coal mines. The agency also regulates active coal
mines to minimize environmental impacts during mining and to reclaim affected
lands and waters after mining.
• Indian Affairs provides and funds a variety of services to federally recognized
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and their members and historically
has been the lead agency in federal dealings with tribes. The Bureau of Indian
Affairs is responsible for programs that include government operations, courts,
law enforcement, fire protection, social programs, roads, economic development,
employment assistance, housing repair, irrigation, dams, Indian rights protection,
implementation of land and water settlements, and management of trust assets
(real estate and natural resources). The Bureau of Indian Education funds an
elementary and secondary school system, institutions of higher education, and
other educational programs.
Title II. Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment. Primary responsibilities
include the implementation of federal statutes regulating air quality, water quality, pesticides,
toxic substances, management and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and cleanup of
environmental contamination. EPA also awards grants to assist states and local governments in
implementing federal law and in complying with federal requirements to control pollution.
Title III. Related Agencies
Among the Related Agencies funded in the Interior bill, roughly 95% of the funding is typically
provided to the following agencies and organizations:
• The Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture manages 193 million acres
of national forests, national grasslands, and a tallgrass prairie in 44 states and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; provides technical and financial assistance to
states, tribes, and private forest landowners; and conducts research on sustaining
forest resources for future generations.
• The Indian Health Service in the Department of Health and Human Services
provides medical and environmental health services for more than 2 million
American Indians and Alaska Natives. Health care is provided through a system
of facilities and programs operated by the agency, tribes and tribal organizations,
and urban Indian organizations. As of January 2015, the agency operated 28
hospitals, 62 health centers, and 25 health stations. Tribes and tribal
organizations, through Indian Health Service contracts and compacts, operated
another 18 hospitals, 282 health centers, 80 health stations, and 150 Alaska
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Native village clinics. Urban Indian organizations operated 33 ambulatory or
referral programs.6
• The Smithsonian Institution is a museum and research complex consisting of 19
museums and galleries, the National Zoo, and nine research facilities throughout
the United States and around the world. Almost 27 million people visited
Smithsonian facilities in 2014. Established by federal legislation in 1846 with the
acceptance of a trust donation by the institution’s namesake benefactor, the
Smithsonian is funded by both federal appropriations and a private trust, with
nearly $1.3 billion in total revenue from all sources of funding for FY2013.7
• The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the
Humanities make up the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a major federal source of support for all
arts disciplines. Since 1965 it has awarded more than 145,000 grants that have
been distributed to all states. The National Endowment for the Humanities
generally supports grants for humanities education, research, preservation, and
public humanities programs; creation of regional humanities centers; and
development of humanities programs under the jurisdiction of state humanities
councils. Since 1965, it has awarded almost 63,000 grants. It also supports a
Challenge Grant program to stimulate and match private donations in support of
humanities institutions.
FY2016 Appropriations
Components of the FY2016 President’s Request
For FY2016, the President requested $33.32 billion for the approximately 30 agencies and entities
typically funded in the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations law.
For the 10 major DOI agencies8 in Title I of the bill, the request was $12.09 billion, or 36.3% of
the total requested. For EPA, funded by Title II of the bill, the request was $8.59 billion, or 25.8%
of the total. For about 20 agencies and other entities typically funded in Title III of the bill, the
request was $12.65 billion, or 38.0% of the total.9
The total requested by the Administration included a proposed $1.05 billion disaster relief cap
adjustment to the discretionary spending limits in law. Of the total proposed adjustment, $200.0
million was for DOI Wildland Fire Management, and $854.6 million was for Forest Service
Wildland Fire Management.10
6 Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, IHS Year 2015 Profile, January 2015,
http://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/factsheets/ihsyear2015profile/. For additional information on the agency, see CRS
Report R43330, The Indian Health Service (IHS): An Overview, by Elayne J. Heisler.
7 Except for the revenue figure, these statistics are from the Smithsonian Institution’s website at http://www.si.edu/
About. The revenue figure is from Smithsonian Institution, Seriously Amazing: 2013 Annual Report, p. 34,
http://www.si.edu/Content/Pdf/About/2013-Smithsonian-Annual-Report.pdf.
8 “Agencies” is used to encompass the eight DOI agencies described on pp. 2-3 of this report as well as DOI
Departmental Offices and DOI Department-Wide Programs.
9 In text and tables throughout this report, figures may not sum to the precise totals shown due to rounding.
10 For information on the President’s request for DOI and Forest Service Wildland Fire Management, see CRS Report
R43077, Wildfire Management: Federal Funding and Related Statistics, by Katie Hoover and Kelsi Bracmort.
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Appropriations for agencies vary widely for a number of reasons relating to the number, breadth,
and complexity of agency responsibilities; alternative sources of funding (e.g., mandatory
appropriations); and Administration and congressional priorities, among other factors. Thus,
although the President’s FY2016 request covered approximately 30 agencies, funding for a small
subset of these agencies accounted for most of the total. For example, the requested
appropriations for three agencies—EPA, Forest Service, and Indian Health Service—were nearly
three-fifths (58.4%) of the total request. Further, more than three-quarters (76.4%) of the request
was for these three agencies and two others—National Park Service and Indian Affairs.
For DOI agencies, the FY2016 requests ranged from $74.2 million for the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management to $3.05 billion for the National Park Service. The requests for six of the 10
agencies exceeded $1 billion. Nearly half (49.4%) of the $12.09 billion requested for DOI
agencies was for two agencies—the National Park Service and Indian Affairs ($2.92 billion).
For Related Agencies in Title III, the requested funding levels exhibited even more variation. The
President sought amounts ranging from $2.0 million for grants under National Capital Arts and
Cultural Affairs to $5.78 billion for the Forest Service. The Indian Health Service would be the
only other agency to receive more than $5 billion. The next-largest request was for the
Smithsonian Institution, at $935.8 million. By contrast, 14 agencies would receive less than $80
million each, including six with appropriations of less than $10 million each.
Figure 1 identifies the share of the President’s request for particular agencies in the Interior bill.
Table 1 contains the amount requested by the President for FY2016 for each agency, FY2015
enacted appropriations for each agency, and the percentage change from FY2015 as compared
with the President’s request for FY2016.
Figure 1. Components of the President’s FY2016 Request for Interior, Environment,
and Related Agencies
Source: Prepared by CRS with data from the House Appropriations Committee.
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Notes: Agencies shown in shades of brown are in DOI, Title I of the bill. EPA, shown in blue, is Title II of the
bill. Agencies shown in shades of green are Related Agencies, Title III of the bill.
FY2016 President’s Request Compared with FY2015
Enacted Appropriations
The President’s request of $33.32 billion for FY2016 would be an increase of $2.85 billion
(9.3%) over the total FY2015 enacted appropriations of $30.48 billion.11 The FY2015
appropriation included $372.0 million for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program,12
whereas the President did not seek discretionary funding for PILT for FY2016.13 The FY2016
request would be an increase of $3.22 billion (10.7%) over FY2015 appropriations of $30.11
billion excluding the PILT funding.14 Unlike the President’s request, the FY2015 enacted
appropriation did not include a disaster relief cap adjustment for Wildland Fire Management.
Under the President’s proposal, the total for each of the three titles of the bill would increase by
varying amounts. DOI agencies would receive an increase of $994.3 million (9.0%), funding for
EPA would increase by $451.8 million (5.6%), and the total for all Related Agencies in Title III
would increase by $1.40 billion (12.4%).
With regard to DOI, for nine of the 10 agencies the President proposed increases above FY2015.
The increases varied in dollar amount and percentage of appropriations, with the lowest dollar
increase of $1.4 million (1.7%) for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the
highest of $433.1 million (16.6%) for the National Park Service. Some of the National Park
Service increase was intended to enhance park units in light of the agency’s 2016 centennial.
Activities receiving additional funds would include park facility operations and maintenance,
resource stewardship, visitor services, line item construction, historic preservation, and the
centennial challenge (a federal matching program to leverage donations for park units). Only one
DOI account, Department-Wide Programs, would receive an overall decrease ($244.5 million,
18.2%) under the President’s FY2016 request. This was because the President did not seek
discretionary funding under this account for PILT, as noted. The other four programs included
under this heading would receive increases under the President’s proposal, as shown in Table 1.
Within the overall increase for EPA, the President sought additional funds for each of the
agency’s accounts. The $228.0 million (8.7%) increase for the Environmental Programs and
Management account was the largest overall dollar increase proposed for EPA accounts. This
account funds a broad array of activities supporting EPA’s development and enforcement of
pollution control regulations and standards, technical assistance, and administrative and
operational expenses. The $65.1 million (6.0%) increase for the Hazardous Substance Superfund
11 For additional comparison, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees reported lower “302(b)”
allocations for the Interior Subcommittees for FY2016. The discretionary allocations were $30.17 billion for the House
Interior Subcommittee (H.Rept. 114-118) and $30.01 billion for the Senate Interior Subcommittee (S.Rept. 114-55).
These allocations function as ceilings on the Interior bill. For additional information on “302(b)” allocations, see CRS
Report RS20144, Allocations and Subdivisions in the Congressional Budget Process, by Bill Heniff Jr.
12 The $372.0 million for PILT was included in §11 of the general provisions of P.L. 113-235, whereas regular
appropriations for the Interior bill were contained in Division F of the law.
13 Instead, the President supported mandatory funding for PILT for FY2016, which would require a change in law.
14 Hereinafter in this report, the FY2015 bill total and the DOI total reflect the $372.0 million for PILT. For additional
information on PILT, see CRS Report RL31392, PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes): Somewhat Simplified, by M. Lynne
Corn.
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account was the second largest overall dollar increase for EPA accounts. This account supports
the assessment and cleanup of sites contaminated from the release of hazardous substances. EPA
administers these activities under the Superfund program, as authorized in the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).15
Despite the increases the President sought for each EPA account, funding for some programs and
activities would remain level or decline. The largest proposed dollar decrease ($332.9 million,
23%) was for grants to states for wastewater infrastructure projects through the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund. By contrast, the President sought an increase ($279.1 million, 30.8%) for
drinking water infrastructure grants to states through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
While most Title III agencies would receive increases under the President’s FY2016 proposal, the
three largest agencies would receive the biggest dollar increases. Specifically, the President
sought an additional $724.2 million (14.3%) for the Forest Service, $460.6 million (9.9%) for the
Indian Health Service, and $116.3 million (14.2%) for the Smithsonian Institution. The Forest
Service increase would be used primarily for suppressing wildland fires and for the National
Forest System account. The Indian Health Service would receive increases for many programs
and activities, including clinical services, contract support costs, and construction of facilities for
health care and sanitation. The Smithsonian Institution’s additional funds would be directed to
facilities maintenance, operations, security, revitalization, planning, and design, among other
purposes. By contrast, three Title III agencies would receive level funding, while two agencies
would receive decreases.16
Table 1. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations
Requested by the President Compared with FY2015 Enacted Appropriations
($ in thousands)
FY2016
FY2015 Enacted
Requested
Percent
Bureau or Agency
Approps.
Approps.
Change
Title I: Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
$1,120,235
$1,229,896
9.8
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1,439,764
1,575,510
9.4
National Park Service
2,614,599
3,047,707
16.6
U.S. Geological Survey
1,045,000
1,194,782
14.3
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
72,422
74,235
2.5
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
81,046
82,464
1.7
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
150,112 160,462 6.9
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education
2,601,498
2,924,968
12.4
Departmental Offices
622,580
696,007
11.8
15 CERCLA (42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq.) requires responsible parties to pay for the cleanup of environmental
contamination and authorizes the cleanup of sites where the responsible parties cannot pay or cannot be found.
16 Agencies that would receive level appropriations are the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs. Agencies that
would receive decreases are the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation.
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FY2016
FY2015 Enacted
Requested
Percent
Bureau or Agency
Approps.
Approps.
Change
Office of the Secretary
265,263
327,939
23.6
Insular Affairs
102,441
102,978
0.5
Office of the Solicitor
65,800
69,888
6.2
Office of Inspector General
50,047
52,224
4.3
Office of Special Trustee for American Indians
139,029
142,978
2.8
Department-Wide Programs
1,343,656a 1,099,204 -18.2
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
372,000
0
-100.0
Wildland Fire Management
896,779
1,005,495
12.1
Central Hazardous Materials Fund
10,010
10,011
<0.1
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund
7,767
9,236
18.9
Working Capital Fund
57,100
74,462
30.4
Subtotal, Title I: Department of the Interior
11,090,912b 12,085,235
9.0
Subtotal, Title II: Environmental Protection Agencyc 8,139,887
8,591,718
5.6
Title III: Related Agencies
Forest Service
5,056,246
5,780,410
14.3
Indian Health Service
4,642,381
5,102,985
9.9
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
77,349
77,349
0
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
74,691
74,691
0
Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental
Quality
3,000 3,015
0.5
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
11,000
12,271
11.6
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
7,341
8,400
14.4
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts
9,469 11,619
22.7
Development
Smithsonian Institution
819,541
935,825
14.2
National Gallery of Art
138,500
152,660
10.2
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
32,800
36,400
11.0
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
10,500
10,420
-0.8
National Endowment for the Arts
146,021
147,949
1.3
National Endowment for the Humanities
146,021
147,942
1.3
Commission of Fine Arts
2,524
2,653
5.1
National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs
2,000
2,000
0
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
6,204
6,080
-2.0
National Capital Planning Commission
7,948
8,348
5.0
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
52,385
54,959
4.9
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commissiond
1,000
70,200
6,920.0
Subtotal, Title III: Related Agencies
11,246,921
12,646,176
12.4
Total: Interior, Environment, and Related Agenciese
30,477,720
33,323,129
9.3
Source: Prepared by CRS with data from the House Appropriations Committee.
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a. FY2015 discretionary appropriations for PILT were provided in §11 of the general provisions of P.L. 113-
235. This table reflects these appropriations under DOI Department-Wide Programs. However, the law
does not specify the appropriations to this account but states only that the funds are available to the
Secretary of the Interior.
b. This figure includes $372.0 million for PILT.
c. For additional information on appropriations for the Environmental Protection Agency for FY2015, see CRS
Report R43709, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): FY2015 Appropriations, by Robert Esworthy.
d. The President’s FY2016 request consisted of $2.0 million for salaries and expenses and $68.2 million for
construction of the memorial. The FY2015 appropriations provided funding only for salaries and expenses.
e. The FY2015 appropriations figure reflects appropriations in P.L. 113-235 of $30.17 billion in Division F and
$372.0 million in §11 of the general provisions. It also reflects rescissions of $68.0 million. The FY2016
request reflects appropriations of $32.30 billion, a proposed disaster relief cap adjustment of $1.05 billion,
and rescissions of $30.0 million.
History (FY2007-FY2015)
In current dollars (not adjusted for inflation), the appropriations enacted for Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies over the prior nine fiscal years (FY2007-FY2015) peaked in
FY2009 at $38.79 billion, as shown in Table 2. The appropriation for each of the three titles in
the bill also peaked in FY2009. This was because the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5) provided an additional $10.95 billion for Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies for FY2009. This was approximately a 40% supplement to the funding in the
regular Interior appropriations bill for FY2009.17 The FY2009 total also reflects an additional
$250.0 million in wildland fire appropriations enacted in P.L. 111-32.18
In comparison with FY2007, FY2015 enacted appropriations increased by $3.08 billion (11.2%)
in current dollars. While the appropriation for each title of the bill increased, Related Agencies
received the largest dollar and percent increase ($2.03 billion, 22.1%). This was largely because
of enhanced appropriations for the Indian Health Service, which increased by $1.46 billion
(46.0%) from $3.18 billion in FY2007 to $4.64 billion in FY2015. The second largest increase for
Title III agencies was an additional $349.9 million (7.4%) in FY2015 for the Forest Service.
In constant dollars (adjusted for inflation), the appropriations for Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies peaked in FY2009 at $42.49 billion, as shown in Table 3. The appropriation for
each title of the bill also was highest in FY2009, again owing to the stimulus funding in ARRA.
In comparison with FY2007, FY2015 appropriations decreased by about $516 million (1.7%) in
constant dollars. Both DOI agencies and EPA had comparatively lower appropriations in FY2015
than in FY2007, with a larger decrease for EPA in both dollars and percentage (about $597
million, 6.8%). By contrast, Related Agencies overall were about $825 million (7.9%) higher in
FY2015. Figure 2 depicts the annual changes in both current and constant dollars for Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies overall and for each title of the bill.
17 Regular FY2009 appropriations of $27.59 billion for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies were enacted in
Division E of P.L. 111-8, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.
18 P.L. 111-32 was enacted as the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009.
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Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations in Brief
Table 2. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2007-FY2015 Enacted
Appropriations in Current Dollars
($ in billions)
Change from
FY2007 to
Title
FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013 FY2014 FY2015
FY2015
Title
I:
DOI
$10.04 $10.38 $12.19 $11.05 $10.63 $10.30 $10.69 $10.48 $11.09a $1.05
(10.5%)
Title
II:
EPA
7.72 7.46
14.86 10.29 8.68 8.45 8.48 8.20 8.14 0.42
(5.4%)
Title III: Related
Agencies
9.21 10.57 11.74 10.97 10.30 10.48 10.52 11.44 11.25 2.03
(22.1%)
Total: Interior,
Envt. & Related
27.40 28.42 38.79 32.32 29.61 29.23 29.69 30.12 30.48 3.08
(11.2%)
Agenciesb
Source: Prepared by CRS with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
a. Figure includes $372.0 million for Payments in Lieu of Taxes.
b. Amounts generally do not reflect scorekeeping adjustments. The FY2007 total reflects appropriations of
$26.51 billion; emergency appropriations of $925.2 million, including $425.0 million (for Secure Rural
Schools) in Title IV, General Provisions, not shown in the column; and rescissions of $30.0 million. The
FY2008 total reflects appropriations of $26.64 billion, including $12.7 million in Title IV, General Provisions
not shown in the column; emergency appropriations of $1.82 billion; and rescissions of $35.0 million. The
FY2009 total reflects omnibus appropriations of $27.59 billion, consisting of an appropriation of $27.65
billion, including $9.0 million in Title IV, General Provisions not shown in the column, and $62.2 million in
rescissions. The FY2009 total also includes stimulus appropriations of $10.95 billion in P.L. 111-5 and $250.0
mil ion in wildland fire appropriations in P.L. 111-32. The FY2010 total reflects appropriations of $32.39
billion, including $11.0 million in Title IV, General Provisions not shown in the column, and rescissions of
$100.8 million. The FY2011 total reflects appropriations of $30.44 billion, including $2.0 million in Title IV,
General Provisions not shown in the column, and rescissions of $825.6 million. The FY2012 total reflects
appropriations of $29.39 billion and rescissions of $166.0 million. The FY2013 total reflects $28.32 in full-
year appropriations in P.L. 113-6 and reimbursements for fire transfer in P.L. 112-175, $1.37 billion in
supplemental appropriations for disaster relief for various agencies and programs in P.L. 113-2, and
reductions under the President’s sequester order of March 1, 2013. The FY2014 total reflects
appropriations of $30.16 billion, including $1.0 million in Title IV, General Provisions not shown in the
column, and rescissions of $35.5 million. It also reflects $628.5 million for Wildland Fire Management under
P.L. 113-46 (including a rescission in P.L. 113-76). The FY2015 total reflects appropriations in P.L. 113-235
of $30.17 billion in Division F and $372.0 million in §11 of the general provisions, and rescissions of $68.0
million.
Table 3. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2007-FY2015 Enacted
Appropriations in Constant Dollars
($ in billions)
Change from
FY2007 to
Title
FY2007 FY2008 FY2009 FY2010 FY2011 FY2012 FY2013 FY2014 FY2015
FY2015
Title
I:
DOI
$11.35 $11.50 $13.35 $12.00 $11.32 $10.78 $11.00 $10.62 $11.09 $-0.26
(-2.3%)
Title
II:
EPA
8.74 8.27 16.27 11.18 9.25 8.85 8.72 8.31 8.14 -0.60
(-6.8%)
Title III: Related
10.42 11.71 12.86 11.91 10.97 10.97 10.82 11.60 11.25 0.83
(7.9%)
Agencies
Total: Interior, Envt.,
& Related Agencies
30.99 31.49 42.49 35.10 31.54 30.60 30.55 30.53 30.48 -0.52
(-1.7%)
Source: Prepared by CRS with information from the Office of Management and Budget, Budget of the United
States Government Fiscal Year 2016, Historical Tables. CRS converted nominal dollars to estimated 2015 dol ars
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Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations in Brief
using the GDP Chained Price Index from Table 10.1, Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the
Historical Tables - 1940–2020, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals.
Note: See notes to Table 2.
Figure 2. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Enacted Appropriations for
FY2007-FY2015, in Current (Nominal) and Constant (Inflation-Adjusted) Dollars
Source: Prepared by CRS with information from the Office of Management and Budget, Budget of the United
States Government Fiscal Year 2016, Historical Tables. CRS converted nominal dollars to estimated 2015 dol ars
using the GDP Chained Price Index from Table 10.1, Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the
Historical Tables - 1940–2020, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals.
Figure 3.Enacted Appropriations by Title for FY2007-FY2015, in Current (Nominal)
and Constant (Inflation-Adjusted) Dollars
Source: Prepared by CRS with information from the Office of Management and Budget, Budget of the United
States Government Fiscal Year 2016, Historical Tables. CRS converted nominal dollars to estimated 2015 dol ars
using the GDP Chained Price Index from Table 10.1, Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the
Historical Tables - 1940–2020, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals.
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Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: FY2016 Appropriations in Brief
Author Contact Information
Carol Hardy Vincent
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
chvincent@crs.loc.gov, 7-8651
Acknowledgments
Key Policy Staff
Area of Expertise
Name
Phone
E-mail
Coordinator
Carol Hardy Vincent
7-8651
chvincent@crs.loc.gov
Bureau of Indian Affairs, coordinator
Katie Hoover
7-9008
khoover@crs.loc.gov
Bureau of Indian Education
Cassandria Dortch
7-0376
cdortch@crs.loc.gov
Bureau of Land Management
Carol Hardy Vincent
7-8651
chvincent@crs.loc.gov
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Marc Humphries
7-7264
mhumphries@crs.loc.gov
Bureau of Safety and Environmental
Marc Humphries
7-7264
mhumphries@crs.loc.gov
Enforcement
Environmental Protection Agency
Robert Esworthy
7-7236
resworthy@crs.loc.gov
Fish and Wildlife Service
M. Lynne Corn
7-7267
lcorn@crs.loc.gov
Forest Service
Katie Hoover
7-9008
khoover@crs.loc.gov
Indian Health Service
Elayne J. Heisler
7-4453
eheisler@crs.loc.gov
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Carol Hardy Vincent
7-8651
chvincent@crs.loc.gov
Office of Insular Affairs
R. Sam Garrett
7-6443
rgarrett@crs.loc.gov
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
Marc Humphries 7-7264
mhumphries@crs.loc.gov
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
David M. Bearden
7-2390
dbearden@crs.loc.gov
and Enforcement
National Endowment for the Arts and
Shannon S. Loane
7-6223
sloane@crs.loc.gov
National Endowment for the
Humanities
National Park Service
Laura B. Comay
7-6036
lcomay@crs.loc.gov
Smithsonian Institution
Shannon S. Loane
7-6223
sloane@crs.loc.gov
U.S. Geological Survey
Pervaze A. Sheikh
7-6070
psheikh@crs.loc.gov
Wildland Fire Management
Katie Hoover
7-9008
khoover@crs.loc.gov
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