White House reverses experts on Yellowstone policy

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service wanted to close a section of Yellowstone Park in the wintertime because of the risk of avalanche. No way, protested businesses in Cody, Wyo., that wanted to promote more tourism.

The spat did not stay local for long. It ended up in Washington, where the Bush White House intervened late last year and sided with the businesses, according to officials familiar with the fight.

A final decision, announced Monday by Park Service regional director Mike Snyder, will keep the park's eastern entrance open to snow-going vehicles throughout the winter. The cost to taxpayers could run into the millions of dollars for a decision to accommodate a small number of tourists.

~snip~

The Park Service had studied the winter closure issue for a decade, beginning in the Clinton administration. The agency was poised last fall to issue a decision that would close that part of the park for three months of the year.

But in November, just as a crucial ruling was to come out, an official in the Park Service's Washington headquarters called Yellowstone and asked that key sections of the document be faxed for review by nine White House officials, including policy advisers to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, said two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals. Cheney is a former Wyoming congressman.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080724/ap_on_go_pr_wh/fighting_over_yellowstone;_

[PSPS]

1. I wonder if we'll ever again have a white house that isn't all mobbed up.

[liberal N proud]

3. We must HOPE that CHANGE on the way is enough

[Orrex]

2. That story is slanted to make the Whitehouse seem unreasonable

You're only allowed to use the contested portion of the park if you promise to kill at least one bear during your visit and you ride a snowmobile with no muffler to get there.

The article makes it sound like the Bush Whitehouse doesn't care a bit about the park.

[liberal N proud]

4. Trust me they don't

They can't get their hands on any of the resources that might be there and have no use for it otherwise.

[Orrex]

6. When will I learn to include the :sarcasm: smiley?

[Patchuli]

5. The businesses should only be allowed

to stay open if *they* pay for the snow vehicles and workers! Why should tax dollars be used for business profits?!!!

[skoalyman]

7. bush thinks there be oil under yellowstone

;-) :nuke: :nuke:

[Patchuli]

10. Good thing

we're counting the days now 'til * doesn't matter and goes away...to the Hague, hopefully.

[LynnTheDem]

8. BIG BUSINESS MATTERS. The American people are immaterial.

And fungible.

[Ian David]

9. Let market forces determine what is and is not safe. n/t

[Ian David]

11. "Nobody could have forseen an avalanche in Yellowstone..." n/t

[Rosie1223]

12. We can't get a new president fast enough

I can't count the number of times I've said this.

[tanyev]

13. Note to self:

Stay out of Yellowstone in the wintertime.

[nikto]

14. The Theme here is the same as "JAWS"

Just substitute Avalanche for Shark,
and Bu$hCo&local Biz-Men for the Mayor&local Biz-Men in Amity.


Hope this doesn't turn out like The Movie.

:eyes: :popcorn: :eyes: