If you read my blog regularly, you'll know that I think the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act is bogus. The people never asked for it, and probably never would have approved it, but somehow for the last 10 years, the legislation regarding fees to visit our federal lands have passed through Congress as non-debated riders. We the people are literally ...

It seems no one is happier about the newly proposed National Park Service budget than the White House. And why shouldn't they be happy? This is a win-win-win. America's parks get an infusion of cash, America's people can feel good that the parks are getting attention, and America's president can take credit for a job well done. Everyone is very ...

Compared to exploding geysers, red rock canyons, and ice covered mountains, public policy is pretty boring stuff. No one is going to send home a postcard containing the text of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 for instance. But, there is language contained within that NHPA that is making a mess for the people fighting private development in ...

Among the politicians who have direct influence on the National Parks is Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming. Thomas is the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks. He was in Yellowstone to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the NPS, and apparently had time to sit down with a local reporter and give a 50 minute interview which is recorded ...

This post relates pretty directly to the events surrounding the preservation efforts of the historic buildings at Sandy Hook, NJ in the Gateway National Recreation Area. For background on the story, read Kurt's recent synopsis at the National Park Traveler, or for a sense about how upsetting this story is for some, read the letter in this Park Remark post ...

I want to know who is calling the shots in D.C. with regards to our National Parks. To be sure, there are a number of people who have influence over federal land use policy, particularly in regards to lands within the parks. About a month ago I posted some information about Rep. Pombo who is the chairman of the House ...

Details about Mary Bomar's vision for the National Park Service are slow in coming. We're probably still in the "quiet phase" when they don't want her to speak for fear that she'll jeopardize her smooth ride through the senate confirmation hearings. Although, the National Parks Traveler has found some written remarks she's made to Senator Craig Thomas which provide some ...

Earlier this week, the Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing called "Visitation Trends in the National Park System - Part II'. In this press release, Subcommittee chairman Steve Pearce says "the message from the National Parks Service and the Tourism Working Groups is that we want National Park visitors to feel welcome, and that their presence is encouraged. If ...

And now for the fake news ... On the heels of recent press releases from the National Marine Manufacturers Association and the Americans for Responsible Recreational Access which have been critical of the new National Park Service Management Policies, today the Chainsaw Recreation League (CRL) have come forward with their own complaints. The CRL is most concerned that their unique ...

I feel like I've been lied to. I have defended the right of concessionaires to operate the lodges inside of our most treasured National Parks, including places like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Crater Lake. After all, it should not be the responsibility of park rangers to check you into your hotel, that type of task should be handled ...

An important editorial appeared in the New York Times today. Titled 'Drafting the Future of the Parks' the opinion congratulates the Park Service for returning to 'the doctrine that preservation is the core historical mission of the parks'. This element seems so obvious, but as you may know, the original changes had been written to 'open the gates' to all ...

By now, many of you know the story of Teresa Chambers. She was the Chief of the United States Park Police, responsible for visitor safety at many of the most popular urban parks units across the country, including the National Mall, the Statue of Liberty, and the area near the Golden Gate Bridge. Chief Chambers was fired when she said ...

Earlier this week, in response to the post of Roger Kennedy's Antiquities Act speech, a reader had posed a question. He was wondering what Mr. Kennedy's reflections would be on President Bush's use of the Antiquities Act in his recent (6/15/06) designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument. Roger Kennedy has had the opportunity to respond. I find his ...

One of the things I love about our National Parks is that they appeal to many different people. The adrenaline junkie can climb upside down off a cliff 1000 feet in the air, the photographer can find solitude near a river, the family can enjoy time together in the campground next to a fire, and the scientist can study birds ...

table.chart{border:1px solid black;} table.chart th{padding:4px;background-color:#cccccc;font-weight:bold;text-align:left} table.chart td{padding-left:4px} table.chart td.rank{color:#006600;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;} table.chart td.name{text-align:left} table.chart td.number{text-align:right}If you've ever thought that a burger in some National Parks cost way too much money, you may be right. I'm still finishing up my taxes here, and noticed something interesting today about what the IRS allows businesses to deduct for employee travel expenses. If you own a ...

I am in the process of finishing up my 2005 federal income taxes for the IRS. Its got me thinking about my money and where my government is going to spend it. Of course, I am particularly interested in what part of my money is going towards the National Park Service. I've spent the last couple days clicking around the ...

True or False: Cattle grazing is allowed inside of National Monuments. The answer: TRUE! Can you believe it? There is a catch, of course. Not all National Monuments are managed by the National Park Service. So, if you happen to travel through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, you may expect to find cattle wondering around because the monument is ...

If you had a natural beauty like Rocky Mountain National Park in your backyard, you would probably be pretty suspicious of anyone telling you that the park could stand to have it's rules on air quality, soundscapes, and pollution relaxed. Such is the case with Colorado Senator Ken Salazar. In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, and ...

As I write postings for Park Remark, especially about topics that are politically charged, my hope is to present a balanced argument, allowing you, the reader to come to your own conclusions. But I cannot hide my feeling that these proposed changes to the National Park Management Policies (sometimes referred to as the 'Hoffman Rewrite') are just bad news. From ...

The proposed Hoffman rewrite of National Park policies have not been received very well. For months, there have been newspaper opinions across the country critical of the plan and what it would could do to our concept of National Parks. Today there are more official responses to the plan that I'd like to share with you. 1) Public Employees for ...

Did you watch the Super Bowl yesterday? A lot of people did. Apparently, it's the most watched television program in the world each year, with over 140 million people tuning in. And when you've got a captive audience like that, corporations are going to pay a lot of money to get your attention. You've probably heard that a 30 second ...

As described by the National Park Service, Petroglyph National Monument is a "place of respect, awe and wonderment." I would have to agree. The monument protects an estimated 25,000 petroglyphs along a volcanic escarpment just outside the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Long before european explorers traveled through the area, this 17 mile section of exposed volcanic rock was a ...

On most maps, our National Parks look like islands of green surrounded by a sea of beige and brown. Inside these islands of green, a pretty strict set of conservation rules apply. Among the biggest of these rules is that you can't kill anything (although, somehow, fishing is allowed in many parks). You can't chop a tree down for firewood, ...

There is a group of retired National Park Service executives who call themselves the The Coalition of Concerned NPS Retirees. They keep a close eye on the operations of the NPS, and write press releases and letters to important folks when they think things are going astray. They have been very concerned with the proposed "Hoffman rewrite" of the Management ...

What do you think about snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park? This subject seems to be a battleground for those that see parks as places for recreation, and those that see parks as ecological preserves. People are passionate about their positions. When asked to comment about snowmobiling in Yellowstone, more than 33,000 responded. A large majority said there should be no ...

Woohoo, you can still enjoy that peaceful moment of solitude on Santa Rosa Island without having to share it with fighter jets and Navy Seals. At the risk of jeopardizing a major defense bill, congressman Duncan Hunter has decided to pull his idea for giving the military an island which is currently under control of the National Park Service. He's ...

It hardly seems fair. But, nobody ever said politics are fair. Imagine you are on a beautiful island off the coast of Southern California. You've found a perfect spot near the coast. You watch the sun set into the Pacific as Brown Pelicans fly over head. The sound of Elephant Seals barking in the distance is barely audible over the ...