| Page 1031 | National Parks Traveler

The National Park Service is an organization in decline due to poor priorities and decision making at the highest levels. Management reflexively blames the budget, but the NPS is a lavishly funded organization. Their budget has increased by around 50% since 2000. Obviously costs have increased since then, but not at that level. The problem is that instead of using that money for basic park

NPS Director Jarvis Allows Parks To Ban Disposable Plastic Bottles

Dec 17th - 16:21pm | ecbuck

BTW Justin - an interesting article to back up my point. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/10/13/too-good-to-be... More junk science.

Dec 17th - 16:13pm | ecbuck

Justin, were do I Google to see the humans that have been killed by those dead animals? His statement is typical of the eco-hysteria. And if there is a problem with plastic in the ocean - the problem isn't the plastic - its the idiots that put it in the ocean. There are many ways to safely recycle or dispose of plastics. We don't need to abandon their vast benefits.

Dec 17th - 14:13pm | justinh

Anon, If you just GOOGLE "animals killed by plastic bottles," you'll find a large number (and variety) of websites that give stats on the hazards plastic, including plastic bottles, pose to wildlife.

Dec 17th - 12:36pm | T Lyons

I worked for the cooperating association at the Grand Canyon for the summer of 2011. We voluntarily stopped selling disposable plastic water bottles and began to sell low-cost refillable green bottles.

Dec 16th - 20:25pm | Dandy

Simple solution all disposable containers should have a deposit on them at least 25 cents then they would be picked up or not thrown away. How about this- would you rather step on a broken glass bottle or plastic? I am not buying two dozen drinking bottles at 2-3 dollars each.. No you can't get just one and refill it, their is no place to refill,

Dec 16th - 17:35pm | Anonymous

The announcement by Jarvis leaves the PWB ban at Grand Canyon as clear as mud (as usual) and shifts the focus from him to IMR director Wessels and the new grca superintendet. As I read the documents, the acting park superintendent made it clear to WASO and IMR back in June that the park did not intend to implement the PWB ban at Grand Canyon (that had been scheduled by superintendent Martin be

Dec 16th - 16:07pm | Anonymous

"Plastic in the environment is killing us all. How many thousands of sea animals die each year from eating plastic? How many humans become ill from eating these same sea animals?" Pray tell Richard. How many of each?

Dec 16th - 01:57am | Richard James -...

Allowing bottled water to be sold at national parks is like allowing beer to be sold at an AA meeting. Plastic in the environment is killing us all. How many thousands of sea animals die each year from eating plastic? How many humans become ill from eating these same sea animals?

Dec 15th - 18:53pm | Anonymous

I rarely will buy an overpriced bottle of water. I mean, really. If you want to talk about cost..... If you can buy a bottle, there is likely to be running water, either in washrooms or drinking fountains. Refill my reusable. More cost effective for me, better for the environment. Win/win.

Dec 15th - 18:09pm | d-2

1. The Director never said he agreed with Coca Cola and reversed the Grand Canyon bottle ban program. He said he wanted to review it. That seems to be exactly what happened here.

Dec 15th - 15:48pm | Anonymous

Parks have been around longer than those plastic bottles of water have been sold. So, visitors can just go back to doing what they were before PBW existed. Why is this a problem?

Dec 15th - 11:43am | Anonymous

Dec 15th - 11:11am | k d g

Hi- I'm an NPS superintendent. I think it was a good decision. Signed, NPS superintendent

Dec 15th - 10:46am | Kitty Benzar

According to Jarvis, "Even reasonably priced reusable water bottles may be out of reach for some visitors, especially those with large families."

Dec 15th - 10:44am | Anonymous

The lodges at Grand Canyon, North Rim, Bryce and Zion have already eliminated those little plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles from the bathrooms (going for the European style dispenser). I suppose the little plastic shampoo bottle industry doesn't have much of a lobby.

Dec 15th - 10:23am | duh

if you were a Superintendent criticizing the NPS on a website do you really think you'd use your real name?

Dec 15th - 09:42am | Bob Janiskee

I have assumed all along that "J Longstreet" is an alias, and that it is also a reference to Confederate General James Longstreet. Longstreet's Assault -- better known (albeit inappropriately) as Pickett's Charge -- was the climactic event of the Battle of Gettysburg. Perhaps "J Longstreet" is a Civil War buff or a person working at a Civil War park? Just a thought.

Dec 15th - 09:29am | anonymous

Gee, at least I and others on here are truthful about who we are:). Paranoia (even paranoids are right sometime) is alive and well.

Dec 15th - 09:16am | Anonymous

Hold on, there's no "Longstreet" listed in NPS's online personnel directory.

Dec 15th - 06:03am | Anonymous

We visited the Grand Canyon and Zion, along with several other parks this summer. We were thrilled to see the water refilling stations. Most people still do not get the need to conserve our natural resources.

Dec 15th - 00:30am | Bruce

My previous post sound naive? Of course it does. Sure, I know what else is likely to be going on behind the scenes, such as Coca Cola support for the National Park Foundation perhaps. However, sometimes I prefer to step back and be just a bit naive when it comes to important issues like the preservation of our National Parks. Then it becomes easier to get to the heart of the is

Dec 15th - 00:17am | Bruce

I agree with Superintendent Longstreet. On what possible basis, other than profit, could Coca Cola possibly raise a legitimate issue here? Please do not tell me that it was concern for public welfare. For them to even be mentioned in this article as having had a recognized position and an effect on National Park Service policy in this matter is revealing and disgraceful.

Dec 14th - 20:03pm | J Longstreet

I'm increasingly embarrassed by the national leadership of my agency. This policy --which did not go through the normal review channels inside the NPS-- seems to be an attempt to save face, saying "of course we support the environment" but then making it excessively onerous to do so.

Echoes of the Cold War in the Tropical Warmth of Everglades National Park

Dec 17th - 14:26pm | Gerald R. Simons

I was at the site located near Red Creek, 183rd st and at that time there were only tents. The only perminant building was the mess hall. one paved road in front of the barrack tents was paved to the outhouses. Orderly room was a tent as well as the showers. We The tents were built on a frame with screens and a plywood floor.

Mountain Lion, With Its Feast, Leads to Closure Of Dinosaur National Monument Campground

Dec 17th - 02:40am | Bob

Indeed, similar to bear encounters, but never "play dead" in a mountain lion encounter. Carrying EPA-Registered Bear Spray in mountain lion territory is always a good precaution. Bear Spray has repelled attacks of many species, including Puma concolor (mountain lion, cougar, panther, etc., depending on where you are hiking--they're all the same cat).

Dec 16th - 13:02pm | Grammy

Sounds similar to bear precautions. Thanks for the info.

Information Sought In Case of Deer Poached At Monocacy National Battlefield

Dec 16th - 17:01pm | Concerned Taxpayer

That you can contact F&W (state) for retrieval. No you can no longer retrieve an animal that dies in the park. In the past you had to contact the Park Service (Federal) and they would determine if you could go in and how far. It was up to the individual as to how far he would let you look for a wounded animal and even if you could enter the park.

Dec 15th - 21:04pm | Venison

This is terrible to see happen. I hope those who were involved are caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law!

Dec 15th - 16:21pm | Anonymous

It is legal to retrieve legally shot deer outside the park that then run into a national park. All people need to do is call the park, obtain permission, and trail the animal with no weapons.

Dec 15th - 16:15pm | anonymous

Concerned: I believe you might be right. I don't know why but the Fast and Furious deception came to mind (although an unreasonable connection I realize). Jumping to conclusions on this from what's been released does allow those that have a particular bias to express it. More factual details, please (on everything one hears from the press).

Dec 15th - 15:24pm | Concerned Taxpayer

Based on the information here there is no indication the deer was shot in the park, only that it was found in the park. It could have been shot outside the park and died inside the park. Hunters would not be permitted to enter the park to retrieve the deer. If these are the facts then it is a shame it was illegal to retrieve. Normally a poacher would take the horns, especially a 12 point, s

Dec 15th - 12:42pm | Steve F in MD

This is just senseless thrill killing. Shoot an animal and leave it on land where it is clearly illegal to hunt. the bag limit for deer with a firearm in MD is 12. With such a generous limit why shoot and kill one only to abandon it. I hope they're proud of themselves.

Dec 15th - 10:03am | anonymous

Didn't see here that just the meat was salvaged or left. Knowing that it was a 12 point buck would have to mean that the antlers were left. Can accept this more (but not altogether) than someone taking the antlers and leaving the meat. Is this action "economy" related? Hunter/Gatherer gene showing itself?

BASE Jumpers Cited For Illegal Leap at New River Gorge National River

Dec 16th - 10:26am | AnonymousD

If one of them had landed in the river and needed rescue, emergency personel would have to put their lives at risk to save them. Then there is the outside chance they land in front of a train and the psychological impact on the operator of that train.

Dec 16th - 00:30am | y_p_w

The essentially NPS stopped allowing BASE jumping after there were some problems in Yosemite. It wasn't necessarily the danger, but apparently that the jumpers had no concept that leaving trash behind wasn't OK, or that they thought driving through foot trails was better than hiking to the top. After it was made illegal, there have been several fatalities.

Dec 15th - 18:40pm | Anonymous

BASE jumping isn't illegal as long as the jumpers have permission. These jumpers did not an as such were breaking several laws. The danger to themselves is not the issue. As the article stated, the river was flowing at an extremely high rate. If one of them had landed in the river and needed rescue, emergency personel would have to put their lives at risk to save them.

Dec 15th - 17:13pm | Anonymous

Why is BASE jumping illegal? Were these people doing anything that would case harm to others or would cause negative reprocussions? I am not a BASE jumper, but I could see if I was only allowed to legally play soccer one day a year, you'd have a hard time keeping me from breaking those rules too.

Spectacular Lava Show At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Dec 16th - 09:27am | Kurt Repanshek

Roughly 4 miles...each way!

Dec 16th - 08:56am | Anonymous

"Visitors who do not want to hike out to the ocean entry" Just curious... how far of a hike is this?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Receives a Generous and Timely Gift

Dec 16th - 08:00am | PauletteB

Wonderful news! And thanks for the reminder to renew my Friends membership!

Congressman Dusts Off 1913 Law In Battle To Get Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy Valley Drained

Dec 15th - 12:46pm | Anonymous

I've visited Hetch Hetchy and IMO it looks like a tailings dump. I must be missing something that John Muir and others saw or see in the place. I love parks but cannot understand the fuss over HH.

Reader Participation Day: Which Is Your Favorite "Historical" National Park?

Dec 15th - 08:10am | Perry

I like Jamestown Island. A historic chuch, archeological digs, the original fort outlined, a great visitor center, and a even greater museum. It's a favorite of my children and grandchildren. Hint: Senior - buy your Golden Age Passport and visit all the National Parks without visitor fee.

Reader Participation Day: Is April A Good Time To Mark National Park Week?

Dec 15th - 06:16am | confluence park...

To celebrate National Park Week, which runs from April 16 to 24, we will be highlighting several of those parks, as well as a few of their cousins in other countries. For its part, the National Park Service will mark the same event by waiving admission fees, so now’s the time to visit.

National Park Mystery Spot 32: At the Mouth of a Feeder

Dec 15th - 05:19am | Bob Janiskee

Sorry, the mystery spot is not Bent's Fort.

Dec 14th - 21:22pm | Mellosy

Is it Bent's Fort ?

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