US National Park Service ‘in denial’

[UpInArms]

http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=2027

A coalition of former American National Park Service employees is urging the Interior Department and NPS to resolve the problems of the country’s parks, and stop existing in a ‘state of denial’ over the situation. The Coalition of Concerned National Park Service Retirees (CCNPSR) singled out Department of Interior Secretary Gail Norton and NPS Director Fran Mainella for publicly offering the view that the parks are in a better position than ever.

The NPS currently has a maintenance backlog of between $4.9 and $6.8bn.

Bill Wade, spokesperson for CCNPSR and a former superintendent at Shenandoah National Park, commented; " Interior and NPS officials cling desperately to a state of denial about the grave problems that they either created or made much worse at the parks. Surreal happy talk that is divorced from the genuinely dire reality of the situation is an insult to the proud history of the national park system and those of us who have devoted our lives to it. The first step is to admit there is a problem so that everyone can work together to do something about it."

...more...

[leftofthedial]

1. what are the problems in the national parks?

specifically.

The bushgang's depression has me working all the time, so I haven't been to a national park in several years.

[pocoloco]

2. No, not many Americans, but they are

full of Japanese and Germans!

[HuckleB]

4. OK. Whatever you say.

Sounds like you haven't been to a park in some time either.

[GreenArrow]

3. pollution, overuse, degradation of facilities/rescources

budget/staff cutbacks/manpower issues just to name a few.

[lovedems]

5. You can look around this site when you have some time

The National Parks despise the Bush administration.

http://www.nrdc.org/bushrecord/wildlife_parks.asp

[leftofthedial]

10. thanks for the link

awful stuff going on

[HuckleB]

6. The Endangered Park Ranger

The Endangered Park Ranger

http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/summer/news1.asp

"A recent report by NPCA reveals a critical shortage of staff in national parks, a problem sure to be seen and felt by many of the millions of visitors to the parks this summer.

   The fact-based report, Endangered Rangers, highlights several culprits for the staff shortages, chief among them shoestring park budgets. It's a simple but worrisome equation: a lack of park funding leads to fewer rangers, which leads to fewer programs, diminishing the rich experiences visitors have come to expect from the national parks and the ability of the Park Service to preserve America's heritage.

   "America's national park rangers are becoming an endangered species," says NPCA President Thomas C. Kiernan. "President Bush has made strong commitments to the American people about protecting our national parks, but regrettably the administration and Congress have failed to keep them."

   Among the many effects of staff shortages across the park system are wildlife and American Indian artifacts being poached, a lapse in scientific monitoring of endangered species, historic structures deteriorating until their roofs cave in, and museum collections piled up in corners or stashed in damp basements."

More...

http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/summer/news1.asp

[ellie]

7. Another example of repube insanity

With a maintenance backlog of billions, the repukes want to reverse the roadless protections put forth by the Clinton administration. Building and maintaining roads takes, guess what? Money. Lots of it. Every time a repube talks about how we should cut down all the forests in the parks I ask them who is going to pay for it? Logging companies will not. It will be the taxpayer. That usually shuts them up.

[HuckleB]

8. NPCA Report: The Burgeoning Backlog

This is the detailed report on the maintenance backlog in our national parks done by National Parks Conservation Association. It's well worth the read for anyone who cares about the state of our National Parks and their place in the culture, character and environment of our nation.

You can also download the full report as a pdf file from the first page:

http://www.npca.org/across_the_nation/visitor_experience/backlog/default.asp

[rumguy]

9. The Bush Administration is gutting our National Parks

I have no doubt there are some in the right wing that would just like to put the Parks up on the chopping block and sell them off.

[HuckleB]

11. Yup. The proof is in the numbers.

Proposed Parks Budget Not Nearly Enough

http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/spring/news4.asp

"The Bush administration's proposed fiscal year 2005 National Park Service budget does not keep up with the day-to-day funding needs of national parks or the multi-billion-dollar backlog of maintenance projects, critics say.

   The budget would provide $2.4 billion to the Park Service and includes a $76.5 million, or 4.5 percent, increase for park operations. Although the budget targets some specific needs in the parks, critics say the overall budget does not come close to upholding the president's campaign promise to "restore and renew" the parks. "One of the few environmental commitments President Bush made was to eliminate the maintenance backlog in the national parks," says NPCA President Thomas C. Kiernan. "Regrettably, the administration has made little progress toward meeting this pledge."

   While on the campaign trail in 2000, Bush pledged $4.9 billion over five years to eliminate a backlog of park maintenance projects. Critics say not nearly enough money has been given to clear the backlog and that the parks are falling deeper into debt amid a series of rising costs within the Park Service. One of the biggest expenses involves protecting iconic parks for homeland security, a cost that rises to $60,000 daily when the country goes to "orange alert."

   On average, parks receive just 60 cents for every dollar needed, research shows."

More...
http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/spring/news4.asp

And this year's budget...

Final Spending Bill Shortchanges Parks

http://www.npca.org/magazine/2004/january_february/news6.asp

[Ernesto]

12. I was @ Yellowstone in June

My call is that the (private) contracter, Xanterra Inc, really sucks. We stayed 3 good nights out side the park in nice motels @ good prices. Spent 1 lousy night in the park @ some crappy dump (no pool, no view, no TV & crummy food) that cost twice as much as the places on the outside.... It was like going on a nice vacation but having to spend 1 nite in a very expensive Walmart..... So much for privatization.

[gasperc]

13. oh, was that a B as in Billion

oh, gosh, golly gee we better cut taxes righty oh quick before those money grubby Democrats get their hands on it!!!!! oh, no worry, with a $475Billion deficit all domestic spending will be crushed in a matter of months!!!!!!!! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

:cry: