Approval of $1,852,000 in additional Accelerated Public Works projects was announced today by Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall. The funds will be invested in a wide range of forest conservation activities in 19 States. Most of the work is scheduled to begin within 30 days.
Secretary Udall said the projects will provide approximately 4,200 man months of on-site employment and generate additional jobs by creating a demand for goods and services.
Projects included in today's announcement cover improvements to public lands, national parks, national monuments, wildlife refuges, and Indian reservations. Besides providing much-needed employment, they will improve facilities used by millions of hikers, picnickers, and campers; help promote tourism, and conserve the Nation's timber and water resources, Secretary Udall said.
Thus far, the Department of Interior has received a total allocation of $63 million in APW funds from the Area Redevelopment Administration, which has overall charge of the program. Approximately $51 million of this has now been committed to specific projects.
The 67 projects included in today's announcement are located in approximately that many counties. Four bureaus of the Department of Interior are involved. The largest share of the work--34 projects, valued at $1,337,000--will be in areas administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife is in charge of 22 projects, representing an investment of $945,000; the National Park Service has six, totaling $350,000; and the Bureau of Land Management has five, involving $220,000 in betterments.
Following are the latest projects, arranged on a State by-State basis.
ALASKA
Central
The Bureau of Land management plans to build a new warehouse and garage at Central, northeast of Fairbanks, which will be used to store firefighting equipment. This project, valued at $23,000, will provide an estimated 12 man months of employment, and is scheduled to start in November. The facilities should be completed in February 1964.
ARIZONA
Fort Apache Reservation
Forests on the Fort Apache Reservation, in Apache, Navajo, and Gila Counties, will be thinned and reseeded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to remove fire hazards and enhance their commercial, recreational, and ecological values. The work in each county involves about 84 man-months of labor and represents an investment of $50,000. All three projects are scheduled to start in 30 days.
Hualapai Reservation
Similar activity is planned by the Bureau of Indian .Affairs on the Hualapai Reservation in Coconino and Mojave Counties, The former project, valued at $7,000, will provide 12 man-months of employment, and the latter, representing an investment of $20,000, 36 man-months’ work. Both are scheduled to start in about 30 days.
Navajo Reservation
The Wheatfield’s Timber Access Road will be built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Apache County portion of the Navajo Reservation, and construction of various forest protection truck trails is planned on the Navajo and Coconino County portions of the reservation. The first project is valued at $400,000. It will provide 684 man months of employment and start in JO days. The other two, beginning about the same time, involve a total investment of $100,000 and 178 man-months of labor.
ARKANSAS
White River National Wildlife Refuge
A previously approved $50,000 forest preservation project at the White River National Wildlife Refuge, involving replanting, removal of fire hazards, and related work, has been expanded, the job has been increased to a total of $110,000, and will provide an extra 60 man-months of employment.
CALIFORNIA
Trinity
About 250 acres in Trinity County will be reforested with Ponderosa Pine seedlings by the Bureau of Land Management. Additional surfacing and grading work on Brock Gulch Access Road is also scheduled. The total value of the project is $70,000, and it will provide 36 man-months of employment. This is an expansion of a previously-approved, $101,000 APW allotment.
Shasta
An additional $17,000 is to be invested by the Bureau of Land Management in replanting and road maintenance work in Shasta County. Previously, $40,000 had been approved for this project. The addition will provide an extra 12 man-months of employment.
Humbolt
Picnic tables, benches, stone fireplaces and other campground facilities will be provided in Humbolt County by the Bureau of Land Management. This work, valued at $80,000, will provide 84 man-months of employment.
Tuolumne
An additional $30,000 worth of grading on Big Jackass Creek Road is planned the Bureau of Land Management in Tuolumne County. The original allotment was$100,000. Twelve more man-months of employment will be created, some of which will be used to eradicate bark beetle infestation in evergreen timber adjoining the road.
FLORIDA
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
A forest preservation project is scheduled at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The work is valued at $25,000 and will provide 30 man-months of employment.
Everglades National Park
The National Park Service plans to improve fire-control facilities in Everglades National Park for $200,000. Approximately 180 man-months of employment will be created.
GEORGIA
Blackbeard National Wildlife Refuge
Forested areas at Blackbeard National Wildlife Refuge in McIntosh County will be replanted and selectively thinned by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Forty eight man-months of employment will be provided by this $40,000 project.
Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge
Similar forest preservation work is scheduled at Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, also in McIntosh County. This job, representing an investment of $25,000, will provide 30 man months of employment.
Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge
The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife will undertake a $30,000 forest preservation project at the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge in Jasper County, valued at $30,000 and creating 36 man-months of employment.
IDAHO
Nez Perce Reservation
The Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Nez Perce Reservation in Clearwater, Idaho, and Lewis Counties plans to thin timber, reseed, remove snags, and improve multiple use development of the forested areas. The total value of the three projects is $60,000 they will provide 108 man months of employment.
ILLINOIS
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refugee
Timbered areas in the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, Williamson County, will be thinned, reseeded, and better-protected against various natural hazards by the Bureau Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, under $50,000 expansion of a previously approved APW project. The total value of the work is now $165,000. The addition will provide approximately 60 man months of employment.
KENTUCKY
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge
The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and wildlife plans to invest $5,000 in a forest preservation project at Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge in Fulton County. It will provide six man months of employment and is scheduled to begin in September.
MAINE
Washington County
Forest preservation work valued at $100,000 and providing 120 man-months of employment will be undertaken in Washington County by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. It is scheduled to begin in September.
Acadia National Park
Fire roads and trails will be rehabilitated and fire hazards reduced in Acadia National Park, Hancock County, by the National Park Service. This work, valued at $28,000, will provide 90 man-months of employment. It is scheduled to begin within 30 days.
MARYLAND
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Wooded areas along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, a popular tourist attraction near Washington, D. C., will be cleared of debris by the National Park Service. This project represents an investment of $50,000. It will provide 132 man-months of employment and is scheduled to begin within 30 days.
MICHIGAN
Seney National Wildlife Refuge
Forested areas in Seney National Wildlife Refuge, near Escanaba, will be reseeded, selectively thinned, and upgraded by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. The work is valued at $100,000 and will provide 120 man-months of employment.
MINNESOTA
Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge
At the Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Aitkin County, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife is expanding a previously approved forest preservation project by $70,000. Total value of the work is now $110,000, and the addition will create 84 additional man-months of employment.
MISSOURI
Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
A $40,000 forest preservation project at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in Wayne County has been expanded to provide an extra 48 man-months of employment. Total value of this Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife project is now $115,000.
NORTH CAROLINA
Eastern Cherokee Reservation
Forested areas on the Eastern Cherokee Reservation in Swain County will be thinned, reseeded, and prepared for multiple-use development by the Bureau of Indian Affairs under a $200,000 APW allotment providing 60 man-months of employment.
Blue Ridge Parkway
New scenic vistas will be cleared and the soil and moisture balance of forested areas will be improved along the Blue Ridge Parkway by the National Park Service. This work, valued at $20,000, will provide 24 man-months of employment and is scheduled to begin within 30 days.
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
At the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, $50,000 will be invested in thinning and replanting forested areas. This Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife project will provide 60 man-months of employment and is scheduled to get underway in September.
OKLAHOMA
Five Civilized Tribes Reservation
The Latimer and Le Flore County areas of the Five Civilized Tribes Reservation will be the site of a $200,000 APW project administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and involving work on the Bengal-Talihina Timber Access Road. A total of 360 man-months of employment will be provided by this construction activity, scheduled to begin in 30 days. A major expansion of visitor-use facilities is planned on those areas of the reservation in Atoka, Coal, Choctaw, Bryan, Delaware, McCurtain, Pontotoc, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, and Sequoyah counties. This work, valued at $100,000, will provide 170 man-months of employment timbered areas also will be thinned and replanted and existing safeguards against fire will be improved. Approximately 170 man-months of employment will be generated by this activity as well. It represents an investment of $100,000. The value of the work in each of the 10 counties is $20,000, and the corresponding employment figure is 34 man-months.
PENNSYLVANIA
Erie National Wildlife Refuge
At the Erie National Wildlife Refuge, in Crawford County, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife has a $50,000 forest preservation project planned. It is scheduled to start in September and will provide 60 man-months of employment.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
A previously authorized forest preservation project at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge has been expanded to provide an additional 120 man-months of employment. The new work will involve an investment of $100,000, bringing the total value of the project to $300,000.
Santee National Wildlife Refuge
Forested areas at the Santee National Wildlife Refuge in Berkley County will be cleared of snags, and protected against timber pests by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. This $35,000 APW project will provide 42 man-months of employment. Similar work is planned in the Clarendon County area of the Refuge. Here, $40,000 is to be invested in a project involving 45 man months of employment. Both jobs are scheduled to begin in September.
TENNESSE
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
Approximately $115,000 in forest preservation work is planned by the
Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge in Humphreys, Benton. Henry, and Decatur Counties, The individual figures are Humphreys, $20,000 and 24 man-months; Benton, $25,000 and 30 man-months; Henry, $60,000 end 72 man-months; Decatur, $10,000 and 12 man-months.
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge
In the Lake and Obion County areas of Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife plans additional forest preservation work valued at $20,000 and providing 24 man-months of employment. Half of the labor and half of the investment is earmarked for each county. This project is separate from that authorized for the Kentucky portion of the refuge,
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Fire trails will be built and improved at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Claiborne County by the National Park Service, This project, valued at $12,000, will provide 44 man--months of employment.
Shiloh National Park
Additional picnic and sanitary facilities will be built at Shiloh National Park in Hardin County, and several abandoned roads will be obliterated by the National Park Service to remove fire hazards. Approximately $40,000 will be invested in this project. It will provide 84 man-months of employment.
