Rep. John Sarbanes, D-District 3, and several members of the Maryland congressional delegation sent President Bush a letter urging financial support for the renovation of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Refuge in Laurel in the fiscal 2009 budget. The center?s research includes monitoring wetlands, contaminants and biodiversity. In the letter, lawmakers asked for more than $5 million, including $2 million for a new laboratory and office annex next to Gabrielson. Sarbanes, who represents portions of Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties as well as Baltimore City, spoke with The Examiner about the research center.
Why is this an important item to be funded?
It?s a tremendous resource to Marylanders, because it?s this huge open space.
This is 13,000 acres of green space right in the Baltimore/Washington corridor.
It?s [also] a resource because of the research being conducted there.
I think it?s something Marylanders can be extremely proud of.
What have funding levels been like in the past?
In this current appropriations bill, we were successful [in] pushing dollars for infrastructure upgrades at the center, for renovation of aging buildings and some new infrastructure to support the research.
That was at $9 million in 2008.
Then going forward, we want to make sure this renovation upgrade can be continued and completed.
We are asking the president to stay focused on something he has demonstrated an interest in already.
How wouldyou describe the facilities?
The facilities available to the public are terrific right now. In addition, there are laboratory facilities and benefiting from the upgrade.
There are older buildings that need to be demolished and cleared away, and other buildings that will be renovated and upgraded that will allow for this laboratory.
