Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to be here today to share with the committee the activities of the signatory agencies within the Department of the Interior with respect to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Memorandum of Understanding. It is also my distinct honor to present statements on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of Education, who are also working with the department on the upcoming bicentennial and have representatives here today.

Mr. Chairman, first let me give you a little background. Congress established the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (NHT) in 1978 as a component of the National Trails System. The National Park Service administers the trail in partnership with other federal, state, and local agencies, private organizations, and private landowners. In 1993, in anticipation of the bicentennial, the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation created the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council. Created as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, the Council was established to coordinate and facilitate planning for Lewis and Clark bicentennial projects and events from 2003 to 2007.

The National Park Service initiated planning for the bicentennial in 1994. In 1996, at a planning meeting in Billings, Montana, the need emerged for a national interagency committee to coordinate planning and events for the bicentennial. In 1997, under the leadership of Secretary Babbitt’s Office of External Affairs, ten federal agencies and the council agreed to work together in planning and observing the bicentennial. At the instigation of Senator Byron Dorgan, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by these agencies and the council on October 1, 1998 at a gracious ceremony in the Library of Congress. Recently, the Department of Energy has also been invited to join in the MOU. This collaborative agreement seeks to foster understanding and protection of cultural and natural resources, encourage sustainable economic development in communities along the trail, and develop a renewed understanding and appreciation for America’s indigenous nations and cultures.

Since that time, working groups have met regularly both in the field and in Washington to begin implementation of the MOU. Indeed, members of these groups are meeting together this week in Vancouver, Washington during the council’s 4^th annual planning workshop. Agencies have agreed to participate in needs’ assessment and to develop strategic plans for the bicentennial years. The agencies will work together to coordinate budgetary needs and help share resources in specific projects, planning and other activities. While each agency will request funding individually, overall coordination will occur via the interagency committee.

The history of American Indian peoples, the contributions of tribes to the expedition, and the interpretation of this event by their descendants are an integral part of the bicentennial commemoration. A key aspect of implementing the MOU is to consult with tribes who have a historic affiliation with the expedition or who live along the trail today. To that end, the National Park Service is hosting three interagency, inter-tribal meetings to hear tribal perspectives, plans and needs, and to demonstrate the intent of the agencies and the council to consult and work with tribes in the interpretation of the bicentennial. The first of these meetings, co-hosted by the Nez Perce tribe, was held last week in Lewiston, Idaho. Other meetings will take place in Great Falls, Montana and Fort Berthould, North Dakota the first week of May.

Mr. Chairman, although much has been accomplished since October, much remains to be done. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure an educational and rewarding experience for the American and international visitor, while protecting and enhancing America’s public lands for future generations.

Each agency has put together a bicentennial program to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which I would like to share with the committee.

The National Park Service (NPS) has proposed a mobile visitor center or classroom which would travel the route of Lewis and Clark from Washington, D.C. in July 2003, to the Pacific Ocean in 2005, and would return to St. Louis in September 2006. If approved, this project will be called "Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future". Envisioned as a multi-agency federal initiative, the Corps II expedition will retrace the route of the original Corps of Discovery, using the Internet, the news media, live interpretation, educational programs, and other means of disseminating information to bring the story of Lewis and Clark to the widest possible audience.

The NPS has administrative oversight responsibility for the trail and has worked with the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council since its inception and with other federal, state, and local agencies. As planning for the bicentennial has progressed, increasing emphasis has been placed on coordination both within NPS and between federal agencies who hold lands and/or have an affiliation with the trail and, as importantly, with American Indian tribes whose ancestors were affiliated with the expedition or who live along or near the trail today.

A specific example of interagency cooperation include a NPS/Forest Service Cooperative Agreement to station an NPS interpreter with the Forest Service at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Montana. That employee will be in place in May.

Other major cooperative projects include planning and funding for the Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa; the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center near Wood River, Illinois; and the Nebraska City Lewis and Clark Center. NPS was a major cooperator in the planning and design of the Forest Service Interpretive Center in Great Falls and the North Dakota L&C Interpretive Center in Washburn, North Dakota. NPS provides technical assistance to 88 "certified" non-federal sites on the trail and more than 90 federal sites.

In FY 1997, the budget for the Lewis and Clark NHT was $147,000. The FY 1998 budget was $395,000 and increased to $874,000 in FY 1999. The additional allocation has allowed NPS to provide funds to cooperating partnership organizations, primarily the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation and the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council to fund staff positions to assist the NPS in accomplishing their common mission with these partners. In cooperation with partnership organizations, NPS has funded Challenge Cost Share (CCS) projects in all trail states that protect and interpret Lewis and Clark sites. In 1999, NPS funded 23 CCS projects with $214,000 in NPS funds being matched by non-federal funds. Most projects were accomplished through state and local governments or nonprofit organizations. In addition to cooperative agreements with the foundation and the council, NPS has cooperative agreements with the Missouri Historical Society, North L&C Bicentennial Foundation, North Dakota Historical Society, Montana L&C Bicentennial Commission, Idaho Historical Society, and the Washington State Historical Society.

The NPS Lewis and Clark Trail base funding is designed to provide administrative support as well as financial and technical assistance to Lewis and Clark cooperators. In FY 1998, $60,000 was provided to the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council; $45,000 to the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation for Trail Support; and $35,000 to the North Dakota Bicentennial Foundation for the Fort Mandan Visitor Center. An additional $145,000 is available to these and other cooperators for FY 1999 while requests have been made for over $270,000 additional funding. In addition, $175,000 has been distributed in a cost-share program, with over $300,000 in requests received.

The FY 2000 NPS budget requests an additional $300,000 for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, and approximately $1.1 million for the five NPS parks on the trail. The National Historic Trail increase will be used for more staff to respond to the tremendous increase in requests for technical assistance through the CCS and other programs. Some funding may be used to increase assistance as requested by partnership organizations. Current funding levels are insufficient to grant all of those requests. The parks along the trail are preparing plans to increase staff to accommodate the increased visitation and public interest generated by the bicentennial.

As noted earlier, the NPS is hosting interagency, inter-tribal meetings with Indian tribes along the trail to seek their input on participation in the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. Invitations to participate in these meetings were sent to each tribe, NPS field and regional directors, and representatives of each agency participating in the interagency field committee meetings. The meetings are designed for the agencies to listen to the American Indian concerns and to assist efforts to participate in the commemoration.

Funding needs associated with the Lewis and Clark bicentennial will be identified by each individual agency. One of the objectives of the MOU between the agencies is to coordinate budget efforts. Each agency will submit required funding needs through the normal budget process.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages more than 300 miles of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Montana and Idaho. As the bicentennial approaches, the BLM not only is preparing for the visitors who wish to "walk in the footsteps" of Lewis & Clark, but also is taking actions to leave a tangible, on-the-ground lasting legacy for future generations.

The primary focus areas for the BLM in Idaho and Montana include: the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River, Beaverhead River and Lemhi Pass, the Salmon and Clearwater Rivers, the Blackfoot River Corridor and Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark. Working within these areas, the BLM has identified five areas of emphasis: enhancing visitors’ experience, land restoration, access, partnerships, and Native American involvement.

The BLM anticipates an influx of visitors to BLM-managed public lands along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. In preparation for these visitors the BLM is improving and expanding visitor facilities and interpretation. Senator Burns was instrumental in obtaining $2 million in the FY 1999 appropriations bill for beginning construction of a visitor center at Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark. William Clark carved his name on the 200-foot rock at this location, which he named for Sacagawea’s son (nicknamed Pompy or Little Pomp). This inscription is the clearest physical evidence left by the expedition. Clark wrote in his journal:

The $2 million will be leveraged with private and local funds to begin construction of an interpretive center for the Yellowstone River region. The site will focus on Clark's return down the Yellowstone and the indigenous residents of the area. The Pompeys Pillar Interpretive Center will be a cornerstone for eastern Montana economies and will benefit gateway communities in the region.

Visitation will not only increase at this and other developed sites, but we expect a dramatic increase in usage of more dispersed Lewis and Clark sites. This will require added resources to meet these visitor needs. Building on the Department of Interior’s "safe visit" initiative, the BLM will place an emphasis not only on interpretation but also on ensuring that both the public and the resources are protected.

A week from tomorrow, April 29, in 1805, the Corps of Discovery entered present day Montana. As directed by President Thomas Jefferson, the Corps headed west on the Upper Missouri River seeking "the most direct & practicable water communications across this continent . . .". The Upper Missouri, designated a Wild & Scenic River by Congress in 1976, has changed little in the last 200 years. The BLM is working to preserve the wild character of the 149 miles of free-flowing river, which offer a wide diversity of resources. The BLM has requested $5 million in the FY 2000 budget to continue key land acquisitions along the Upper Missouri. These acquisitions will increase access to the river and allow us to preserve one of the few remaining stretches of Lewis & Clark’s journey that looks as it did 200 years ago:

The BLM also is seeking to increase and improve access to other important Lewis and Clark sites including the Blackfoot River Corridor and the Marias River in Montana and along the Lolo Trail and Lemhi Pass in Idaho and Montana. For example, BLM-Idaho is pursuing a land exchange, which would bring into federal ownership Captain Lewis’ first campsite in Idaho near Lemhi Pass. This site, the first expedition camp west of the Continental Divide and the Louisiana Purchase was described by Captain Lewis:

In Idaho the BLM is working collaboratively with a wide-range of federal, local and private groups to provide a quality visitor experience. Cooperators include the counties of Lemhi, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Idaho, Lewis and Latah, the Governor’s Committee on Lewis & Clark, the Lemhi Shoshone, Shoshone-Bannack and Nez Perce Tribes, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, local chambers of commerce, historical societies, and a myriad of private and public concerns.

Likewise, BLM-Montana has joined with state and federal agencies and tribal representatives to form the State of Montana Lewis and Clark Planning Team to provide continuity and cooperation both at the statewide level and with local grassroots organizations. For example, in the Blackfoot River Corridor, the Missoula field office is in a cooperative partnership with local counties and a private consortium to improve both access and habitat restoration projects on the Blackfoot River. Little Bighorn Tribal College is also a cooperator on the Pompeys Pillar project.

The BLM will place special emphasis on the Native American perspective as it relates to Lewis and Clark, for without the direct assistance of Native Americans in many cases and forbearance and toleration of the explorers in others, the mission would not have succeeded. A significant part of this commemoration must be an appreciation for the pivotal role played by tribes.

Sacagawea, a young Shoshone woman accompanied the expedition as a guide, has become an American legend. Today there are more statues of her than any other woman in American history. Ironically, little is known about her life before or after the expedition, but what we do know is that without her guidance, intercession and relationships the mission might well have ended in disaster. While the journals of Lewis and Clark frequently fail to give full credit to Sacagawea, when the expedition needed to decide where to establish their winter camp, her contributions were recognized. Author Dayton Duncan captures the moment in Ken Burns’ PBS documentary on Lewis & Clark:

The BLM will not only be highlighting the significance of the Native American contribution to the expedition’s success, but has been and will continue to consult extensively with local tribes and national groups representing tribes to insure that their perspective is appropriately reflected.

 It is critical that our investment endures beyond the bicentennial observance and creates a lasting legacy which preserves our nation’s valuable heritage. The BLM will seek to ensure that the natural, historic and cultural values associated with the route of this journey are protected and preserved for future generations.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is pleased to be actively involved in planning for the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. The Service manages approximately 50 field stations along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, many of which protect important habitat and offer opportunities for the public to learn about the diverse wildlife and landscapes encountered by the expedition. Service programs also offer valuable technical and financial assistance to states, tribes and private landowners in restoring fish and wildlife habitat on lands near the trail.

In his orders to Captain Lewis in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson directed that the expedition’s members meticulously record their observations about plants, animals, and the landscapes through which they journeyed. The expedition’s journals provide the basis for telling a fascinating story about the abundance of our native wildlife, their dramatic decline at the end of the 19^th century and efforts to restore them, in part, through the emergence and growth of the National Wildlife Refuge System during this century.

The Service’s bicentennial planning efforts fall under the following broad

categories that are consistent with the Lewis and Clark MOU’s purposes and

objectives:

1. The Service proposes to enhance, restore and protect important wildlife habitat, cultural resources and landscapes closely associated with the trail. An example would be to develop Missouri River Ecosystem Restoration Centers throughout the Missouri River Basin for interagency coordination of restoration activities such as habitat rehabilitation, threatened and endangered species recovery, native fish restoration, technical assistance to tribes, flood plain management, and research.
2. The Service would work closely with tribes, other federal agencies, local communities and organizations to commemorate the expedition’s bicentennial. An example would be a series of Missouri River fish and wildlife portable exhibits focusing on the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the natural resources currently found in the Missouri River basin. This would be accomplished in cooperation with the National Park Service, other agencies and tribes and could be displayed at the St. Louis Gateway Arch and other high-profile areas along the Missouri River Basin.
3. The Service plans to offer programs and products that help illustrate the "lessons" learned about protecting wildlife and habitat over the past 200 years. An example would be to develop an above-ground viewing aquarium at the Dworshak National Fish Hatchery in Idaho that would be open year round for visitors to view fish described by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The facility would also support a public education program on native fish and the role of the hatchery in restoring them.

The Service is interested in participating in the National Park Service’s proposed Corps of Discovery II initiative. A number of Service offices will likely be available to participate in the traveling classroom and cosponsor on-site events.

A number of Service facilities need to be improved and maintained to handle the anticipated number of visitors during the bicentennial years. An example is the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, where the Service anticipates a doubling of the already high number of visitors (300,000+ annually) during the years of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. The refuge’s scenic drive and observation trails are already in need of significant maintenance. Demands associated with the bicentennial will increase the burden substantially, requiring an accelerated maintenance program.

The Service has identified a number of areas for acquisition along the trail that contain important habitat. For example, plans for the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge include 60,000 acres of restored and protected bottomland habitat along a 360-mile stretch of the Missouri River, between St. Louis and Kansas City. When complete, the Big Muddy Refuge and its partner agencies will help to protect and restore approximately 10 percent of the river and its floodplain in a "string of habitat beads" comprised of dozens of units strategically located along this stretch of the Missouri River.

U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is also proud to be one of the Federal signatories of the Lewis and Clark Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in the commemoration of the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. From President Jefferson's earliest considerations about exploring the great American West, scientific discovery was always a critical part of his vision to "take notice of the country you pass through, it's general face, soil, river, mountains, . . . animal, vegetable, & mineral so far as they may be new to us .

. . ." The focus of the USGS programs on natural resources, environment, and hazards demonstrate how the current scientific work of the USGS is the embodiment and continuation of the scientific traditions envisioned by Jefferson and established by Lewis and Clark.

From its long-term natural resource and biological assessments and analyses to the critical monitoring of such natural hazards as earthquakes, landslides, and floods, to being the nation's mapmaker, USGS science provides an excellent foundation to link scientific discovery with Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery. Proposals are now being considered for several activities that range in scope from national to local. Four activities are of particular interest:

 1. A science data-gathering float trip along the Missouri and Columbia Rivers where Lewis and Clark data would be used as baseline for assessing the changes found today. Public information links would be via the Internet and include National Park Service events along the route.

2. A van tour along the Lewis and Clark route that would provide hands-on activities to the public emphasizing scientific discovery, comparing the technology that Lewis and Clark had to today's, and linking to National Park Service and Forest Service events.

3. A commemorative map series including interpretations of Lewis and Clark discoveries such as the still wild and beautiful Missouri River Breaks and White Cliff sections of the river, to current land use, to wetland restoration efforts. These maps would be widely distributed to the public during the bicentennial commemoration.

4. A national website would provide "virtual tours" of the Lewis and Clark route with links to both related science and bicentennial activities throughout the commemoration. Links would also be coordinated with existing sites such as the Missouri River InfoLINK, which provides information for greater understanding of the Missouri River, and lewisandclark200.org, a web site supported by the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council.

In addition to these larger scale activities, USGS science facilities, particularly those located in the states of the Lewis and Clark route, would provide local events commemorating the Corp of Discovery and its contribution to the scientific understanding of America. From open houses to working with schools, USGS employees will help the American public not only continue to "take notice of the country," but to have a solid science-based understanding of the natural resources that make up the American landscape, which Lewis and Clark discovered.

The Forest Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) are also parties to the Lewis and Clark MOU. The Interior Department agencies have been working with these agencies to ensure close cooperation and coordination in commemorative activities. In the spirit of this cooperative venture, the Forest Service, the Army Corps, and the DOE have asked the department to present their testimony to the subcommittee.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

U.S. Forest Service

The Forest Service is working to provide a quality experience for visitors during the bicentennial while continuing to provide long term protection for the Lewis and Clark trail segments on National Forest System lands.

From 1803-1806, Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery explored the Missouri and Columbia River systems looking for the fabled inland passage to the Pacific Ocean. Their trail covered over 4,000 miles, mostly by water, with the exception of the portion of the route they traveled overland between the headwaters of the Missouri and the Columbia Rivers. About 210 miles of the overland portion of the Lewis and Clark trail is on National Forest System lands. This is a segment of the 4,000 mile route designated in 1978 as a National Historic Trail.

The trail of Lewis and Clark is fascinating to a growing number of people. In the past few years the number of people retracing the route has doubled. During the bicentennial years of 2003-2006, a record number of people from around the world will retrace the journey of Lewis and Clark. Communities, organizations, and tribes will sponsor events that will encourage and enhance this experience. Cooperation with the communities will present unique opportunities and challenges to the Forest Service.

The agency will be involved in a variety of resource management and coordination activities through its National Forest System and State and Private Forestry programs, including:

1. interpretation and historic preservation of the trail;

2. community assistance in resource and economic development to prepare for this event;

3. collaboration with Native American tribes in interpreting and preserving historic, archaeological, and sacred sites; and

4. accommodation of increased variety and numbers of visitors, by managing conflicts in use and ensuring that the effects on the resources are acceptable or mitigated.

Preparations on National Forest System lands

The mountainous overland segments of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail are located on National Forest System (NFS) lands in the states of Idaho and Montana. Visitors can experience the same locations and see the same landscapes Lewis and Clark wrote about in their journals. These lands have much of the same appearance today as they did 200 years ago. This is a powerful experience that will be very attractive and exciting for many visitors. This attraction does raise concerns about how the Forest Service will accommodate the increased number of visitors while protecting the uniqueness of the area.

The Forest Service has evaluated the availability of visitor services and current management of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on the affected National Forests. Our primary findings show that road access and capacity of key segments of the trail and facilities are limited, the route contains sensitive heritage resources, interpretive signs are in need of updating, and there are opportunities to enhance access and use of undeveloped sections of trail. The Forest Service strategy focuses on five key points:

1. protecting the heritage resources along the trail;

2. updating information and interpretation for the public;

3. refreshing existing recreation developments to address safety, sanitation, and accessibility concerns;

4. providing enhanced visitor assistance and service during the bicentennial period; and

5. regulating use, if necessary, in areas where use may exceed capacity of the

infrastructure.

Community Support : Many westerners have referred to the bicentennial as "the tourism event of the century". Communities, tribes, and State Foresters are enthusiastically telling us they want to embrace tourism, leave a legacy by enhancing and interpreting their resources, beautify their community entrances and main streets, and enhance aesthetics through urban and community forestry. Numerous communities along the trail are already gearing up for this event and are looking to federal agencies to participate and lend support. This is also an opportunity for the Forest Service and communities to reestablish positive relations with Native Americans who were so essential to the success of the expedition and who have a stake in the natural and cultural resources we all value.

Through the State and Private Forestry Program, the Forest Service is involved with communities in assisting with their bicentennial efforts. State and Private Forestry is focusing on 3 areas:

1. economic action programs, such as seed money and technical assistance, for communities and tribal governments;

The agency has a Rural Community Assistance Coordinator for the Northern and Intermountain Regions to provide assistance to communities in their planning efforts. The coordinator attends the National Bicentennial Council meetings, Montana and Idaho Governor's Bicentennial Committee meetings, Governor's Tourism Conferences, and is a member of the field-level interagency memorandum of understanding (MOU) working committee.

The work of the Rural Community Assistance Coordinator is complemented by representatives from the National Forests and Ranger Districts working with their respective community groups and Native American tribes in local planning efforts.

The Forest Service will be a significant player in the activities commemorating the bicentennial, but it is far from the only player. Several federal agencies, most of which are represented here today, will have active roles in the commemorative events. In 1997 work was begun on a MOU to establish a general framework for cooperation among state and federal agencies, tribes, and with the National Lewis and Clark bicentennial Council. This MOU was finalized and signed on October 1, 1998.

The agencies and the council are working together to achieve the common goal of advancing domestic and international awareness, understanding, and appreciation of one of the most remarkable and productive scientific and military exploratory expeditions in the history of the United States. Through the commemoration of this landmark event in American history, the agencies, tribal governments and the council will help to provide leadership for all interested parties in observing the Lewis and Clark bicentennial and renewing America's commitment to our National Historic Trails. This collaborative effort seeks to:

1. foster understanding and protection of the cultural and natural resources along the route;

2. encourage economic advancement in the communities and states through which the expedition traveled;

3. enhance the quality of life in America; and

4. develop a new understanding and appreciation for all of America's indigenous nations and cultures.

The Forest Service has designated bicentennial coordinators in the Northern and Intermountain Regions and the National headquarters to work with the MOU participants. These coordinators have established working relations with the other federal agencies, tribal governments and the bicentennial council and participate in interagency coordination meetings at the field and national levels.

The bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition is a multi-year event that will receive worldwide attention. It is looked upon with great optimism for what it can do for the economic well being of rural communities across the west. Mixed with this optimism are the challenges of coordination of many activities across several states and through many levels of governmental jurisdiction. The Forest Service is excited about this event and looks forward to playing a significant role, in cooperation with other federal agencies and tribal governments, to meet community and visitor expectations while protecting and preserving this unique cultural heritage for future generations.

The water route followed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition lies within eight districts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Along this route of over 5,000 miles, the Corps has direct management of approximately 1,100 miles of trail – more direct management than any other government agency. The Corps has jurisdiction over approximately 3,600 additional miles through its Regulatory Program and has maintenance responsibilities for levees and navigation channels. By virtue of its stewardship role over large areas of public land along the trail route and its Army heritage of exploring and mapping of the western United States, the Corps is already playing a key role in the observance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition bicentennial.

The Corps preparation efforts have included 1) the appointment of the agency’s National Coordinator to define the Corps’ role and coordinate agency actions related to the bicentennial commemoration, 2) appointments of Points of Contact at Corps Divisions and Districts nationwide to facilitate coordination of projects and to collect and disseminate information within their respective jurisdictions, 3) participation as a key member of the federal agency MOU working to foster partnership opportunities among the various agencies and to avoid redundant activities, 4) taking steps to ensure that information provided at the request of the public is consistent throughout the Corps. With regard to this last effort, Corps employees attending the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council Workshop in Vancouver this week are establishing a task force to plan and organize Lewis and Clark bicentennial commemoration information packets suitable for mailing to the public upon request. Other federal partners are being invited to participate with the Corps in this endeavor.

The Corps of Engineers expects that the majority of work related to Corps facilities in preparation for the Lewis and Clark bicentennial commemoration, such as maintenance, minor repair and major rehabilitation, will be accomplished within available resource capabilities. Currently, no Corps facilities have been determined to be in need of total reconstruction, in which case, available resources would not be sufficient and separate budget requests would be required. Other Corps activities specifically supporting the Lewis and Clark bicentennial, including salary and travel expenses of the Corps National Coordinator and projects to be undertaken by the Corps or cost-shared with other agencies, are expected to require approximately $200,000 annually.

The Department of Education is exploring options on how to utilize the Lewis and Clark Expedition commemoration to create renewed energy and excitement among American students for learning about exploration and expeditions like Lewis and Clark’s in American history. We are particularly focusing on ways in which the Department can collaborate with other agencies, including the National Park Service to maximize learning opportunities around the Lewis and Clark exploration utilizing the Internet.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to share with the subcommittee the Lewis and Clark activities being prepared by the department and other federal agencies. At this time, I would like to submit a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding for the record. This concludes my statement. I will be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the subcommittee may have.