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Lame Duck Bush Administration Hastens to Weaken Environmental Protection Laws

Nov 3rd - 10:34am | JimB

It's unfortunate that raising concerns about environmental issues is so quickly cast by some as a liberal vs. conservative or a partisan issue. As pointed out above, administrations of both parties have used their final months in office to push through whatever fits their agenda. That may be a reality of our "system," but I don't think it makes for good public policy.

Nov 3rd - 09:49am | Anonymous

Bob, I'm giving you a gold star for candor and truth. Keep hammering at the truth "for the pen is mightier then the sword"!

Nov 3rd - 09:44am | Anonymous

Frank C., yes we have a Constitutional Republic (federal republic) that operates on the liberal principal of a "liberal democracy", a formal Constitution installed with free elections (do we?) protection of civil rights (do we?) and the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.

Nov 3rd - 09:24am | Bob Janiskee

Mark: Most environmental protection laws could use some tweaking, including adjustments that loosen unnecessarily restrictive provisions. But let's demand that our federal, state, and local governments make these adjustments the right way, not by hasty administrative fiat that ignores science, violates the public trust, and in the worst examples, flagrantly breaks the law of the land.

Nov 3rd - 08:35am | Hook

One day all that we will have is concrete streets, buildings, factories, city skylines... all of these beautiful things that make up "human habitat"! When you wake up in the morning you will be able to walk outside, take a deep breath of not-so fresh air and ponder how much better off we are without all that awful wilderness getting in the way, just look at China!

Nov 2nd - 18:24pm | Anonymous

The foregoing emails make it abundantly clear that there's no constructive, much less rational and fair-minded, discourse with today's Republicans. Even after 8 long years of the most destructive, disastrous regime in our living history, most Republicans see very little

Nov 2nd - 17:32pm | Anonymous

What democracy John K.? That's something that the Bush administration has tried hard to do away with. Remember our ill-famed former attorney general Mr. A. Gonsalves and his continuing stonewall white lies for Mr. Bush and company. Without the EPA are national environmental picture would look rather tragically bleak...and it's getting there. No doubt!

Nov 2nd - 15:49pm | john k

sorry mr. Janiskee I don't agree with you, I think you are off! the mark! But democracy is a beutiful thing! "TO EACH HIS OWN"

Nov 2nd - 15:31pm | JB Dailey

Anything that can be done to weaken the strongest lobby in the USA...the EPA...is welcome news. The EPA controls too much is the USA now. It has power beyond its usefulness. I like the National Parks and enjoy going to many of them. This does not mean that the environmentalists are always right in what they do...like THEY think they are. So GOOD for Bush.

Nov 2nd - 14:48pm | Kurt Repanshek

To those who found this post politically offensive, I think it should be pointed out that it also notes that President Clinton wielded his power much the same way as the current president.

Nov 2nd - 14:40pm | Betty H

Wake up people. If the government doesn't protect the environment and our great national lands, who will ? Big business just wants to exploit them for all the money they are worth without ever thinking about the consequences ! Thank you Bob. As long as some of us care, there is a chance !

Nov 2nd - 13:53pm | Greg

This is ridiculous. There are also those of us who love the amazing natural beauty that our country has been blessed with, but do not buy into this liberal political ideology of big government controlling our lives and our businesses in the name of protecting our resources. I didn't join this feed to hear this kind of bias, so I'm also leaving the feed because of this article.

Nov 2nd - 10:45am | Anonymous

Bob, your right on target with Bush's slash and burn environmental policies...rape,pillage and greed till the end! Hopefully, we can salvage are natural resources and heritage from Bush's macabre environmental policies. May the next president of this great country of ours have the wisdom, the tools and courage to do so. Keep hammering at the truth Bob. Wake up and smell the coffee Bentley!!!

Nov 2nd - 09:39am | Andrew Davis

I'm with Bentley. I love national parks and I've enjoyed Kurt's posts, but you've poisoned the feed. Goodbye.

Nov 2nd - 08:32am | Kirby Adams

Bob, Apparently Kurt's hoarding all those tax subsidies NPT gets and not telling you about them! I was going to call you out on the 1928 trivia until it occurred to me that Nixon was on the Eisenhower tickets. Nice stat.

Nov 2nd - 07:31am | Bob Janiskee

Let me make sure I understand you, Bentley, because you certainly have not made yourself clear. Are you saying that the Bush administration is not rushing to weaken environmental protection laws and regs, or are you saying that it's OK for him to do that? And what on earth do you mean when you say "taxpayer-funded"?

Nov 2nd - 06:23am | Bentley Whitman

Here we have yet another example of tax-payer funded liberal slant, just two days before we elect a new president ("Traveler trivia"?). Congratulations, Mr. Janiskee, you have destroyed my enjoyment and participation in an otherwise fairly informative feed.

NPS Entrance Fees Waived on November 11th for Veterans, Military Personnel and Their Families

Nov 3rd - 08:16am | JimB

Wow, some interesting comments on a post that was primarily intended just to let people know about the upcoming opportunity for vets. I hadn't expected to reopen the wide-ranging debate about fees ... but that's ok :-) I would like to answer one comment from the above:

Nov 3rd - 08:13am | Rick Smith

While we are exempting Americans who have served their country from NPS entrance fees, what about returned Peace Corps Volunteers? Rick Smith

Nov 3rd - 07:03am | Bob Janiskee

It's always hard to argue down proposals for expanding veterans benefits, and the one you suggest is especially difficult to oppose on ethical grounds. Who could be more deserving than a military veteran when it comes to freely accessing America's public lands? So, put me in the "yes" column.

Nov 3rd - 06:26am | DPack

As a vet, I am not very impressed that entrance fees are waived for one day. Since all other fees still apply, the entrance fees should be waived for any ID carrying vet period. Do NPS, USFW, BLM, USFS employees always have to pay full costs for their rec time spent on these lands?

Nov 2nd - 18:08pm | Jimi Whitten

I think this is great, it should be expanded to either year-round or at least the month of November. We do so little honor our military and veteran's who deserve so much.

IMBA: Not Every Park Suitable For Mountain Biking, No Interests, Currently, For Trails in Wilderness Areas

Nov 2nd - 22:19pm | Steve

[Jasper Canyon, in Canyonlands NP, is another example of public land recently and permanently closed to the public for unclear reasons.] In order to support the bicycle ban, you have to believe the following:

Nov 2nd - 17:23pm | Anonymous

Quoting Kurt Repanshek: "Just as bikers should be able to enjoy their activity, I don't think it's unreasonable to allow backcountry hikers to be able to enjoy theirs—especially when you consider all the opportunities for bikes outside the national parks."

Nov 2nd - 17:13pm | Anonymous

Few things are more moronic than this line of argument (I quote from a prior post): "A point that seems to be missed by the mountain biking community is that no one is banned from hiking trails, only their bikes are. They can still enjoy the trails on foot, just like the rest of us."

Nov 2nd - 17:04pm | Anonymous

"Although we haven't yet seen the proposed rule change from the Park Service, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) believes that the current mountain biking regulations appear to be working well and that there is no demonstrated need to change them.

Sky-High Ginseng Prices Boost Illegal Harvest in Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Nov 1st - 13:33pm | Anonymous

The Forest Service has some information on ginseng. They also issue permits for use in National Forests. Luckily, they insist on certain guidelines. Try the following link: http://www.wildgrown.com/index.php/Ginseng-Laws/State-Ginseng-Law/Tennes...

Bobcats Attack Two at Death Valley National Park

Nov 1st - 11:57am | zabriskibound

We were present at the attack, witnessed it, and can report that this woman was not feeding any bobcat nor did she have any food. My wife and I had been swimming at around dusk. As we got out of the water a nice couple from California asked us to join them at the fireplace where they had a roaring fire going.

Is Bush Administration Moving to Shuck Some Congressional Oversight on Public Lands Management?

Nov 1st - 09:16am | Anonymous

Osama Binladan couldnt have done a better job of raping our natuural resourceses our economy and bringing this country to its knees. I hope the Bush administration is proud.

Oct 31st - 10:33am | Anonymous

Bob, very cleverly put! But, my strong discontent for the man (too put it mildly) and his unconscionable disregard for the protection of our natural resources and heritage runs high. Maybe he isn't sipping but smoking foreign tobacco of some sort...it sure shows with his bizarre behavior over the past eight years.

Oct 31st - 09:39am | Bob Janiskee

As a reformed alcoholic, George W. Bush no longer consumes alcoholic beverages. Thus, while gazing out over the smoking ruins of his failed presidency may make him melancholy or vindictive or whatever, he doesn't laugh over, cry over, or do anything else with beer -- at least nothing stronger than the O'Douls (<0.5% ABV) depicted in some scenes of "W."

Oct 31st - 09:18am | Anonymous

I'm not surprised by Bush's political chicanery to remove public lands (within national parks boundaries) for more rape, greed and pillage. What precious resources we have left must not be exploited by this careless and reckless administration.

Oct 30th - 22:09pm | Michael Keenan

As far as federal lands go anything that is a energy or mineral resource is all being fast tracked (stolen) by administrative directives. The Bush Texas model, now the Colorado resource raid, and now what is left is now being handed away on a silver platter. Heck even the rents where recently reduce by 20%.

Take the Interstate to One of the Largest Units in the National Park System

Nov 1st - 07:48am | VINK80

Take spare gas if you want to explore the preserve.-- we did and it is a fantastic area. We found no gas between I 40 and I 15 and there is plenty of trails to use it on.

Oct 31st - 16:29pm | JimB

Fred - Thanks for the comment! Sounds like you're an "alumni" of Nellis AFB. I spend several years at Lake Mead, so have some appreciation for that part of the country as well - at least the portions away from Las Vegas :-)

Oct 31st - 12:56pm | Fred Miller

I used to be stationed near here when I was in the Air Force. This is an incredibly beautiful landscape. It is a very worthy addition to your travel plans!

Pruning the Parks: Millerton Lake Recreation Area, 1945-1957

Nov 1st - 05:57am | Recreation Parks

Your article was very informative. I usually come to California during the summer and love spending my time at public parks. Your article really gave me a perspective of how beautiful Millerton Lake State Recreation is. I also have a website that focuses on public parks. Hope you have the time to check the site out.

Thanks to the California Desert Protection Act, Death Valley National Park is the Biggest Park in the Coterminous U.S.

Oct 31st - 16:43pm | JimB

It's interesting that The California Desert Protection Act of 1994 not only resulted in Death Valley becoming the largest NPS unit in the coterminous states, it also added the 3rd largest unit in Mohave Nationa

Traveler's View: Concealed Weapons Have No Place In Our National Park System

Oct 31st - 14:39pm | Anonymous

Gun haters are so intolerant.

Rockefeller Family Turns Over More than 1,100 Acres to Grand Teton National Park

Oct 31st - 03:02am | jsmacdonald

Beamis and I often have very fundamental disagreements in the past; however, I can't agree more with the sentiment that we need to be consistent in our ethics. I think the discussion on the other thread that I linked to says quite well why I think so. Conservation at all costs is not actually pragmatic at all.

Oct 30th - 18:37pm | Anonymous2

Last time I checked, this article was about Grand Teton, not the economic policy....

Oct 30th - 18:27pm | Anonymous

Bravo Mr Mcdonald you have once again put your anarchy stamp on yet another story here at Traveler.

Oct 30th - 18:16pm | Rick Smith

Sorry, Bemis, but I don't buy your bleak assessment of the world or the US. Nor do I agree with your characterization of the two candidates as a socialist and a fascist. Your unremitting pessimism is hard to read. For you, apparently, the glass is neither half full nor half empty; it's empty. It must be hard to get up every morning. Rick Smith

Oct 30th - 18:05pm | Lepanto

Jeepers, Beamis, there's not much grey area in your conception of the world, is there? So, our immorality exceeds all other's, and this comic book version of history you would install in place of any kind of real understanding of how things are, and how they work?

Oct 30th - 13:04pm | d-2

Well, Jim, it is fine to be a contrarian in the abstract, and it is hard not to be affected by the American romantic anarchistic or libertarian vision, but the bottom line is getting the critical mass of support to make the differences we need NOW. Pragmatism is also an american virtue.

Oct 30th - 12:39pm | jsmacdonald

Rick, I agree wholeheartedly with you on Kempthorne's announcement regarding the bison advisory group.

How About Some Economic Stimulus for the National Park System?

Oct 30th - 21:32pm | JimB

Funding for projects such as the mass transit systems that have been mentioned would be a great thing. However, let's not be entirely negative about funding badly needed repairs for existing roads.

Oct 30th - 20:15pm | Kurt Repanshek

It certainly wouldn't hurt if some of that money were put into a mass transit system for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon....the one Congress has looked into in the past only to conclude it's too expensive.

Oct 30th - 17:52pm | Bugsyshallfall

d-2 I agree

Updated: Bush Administration: "A Legacy of Failure for Our Public Lands," Claims Congressman Grijalva

Oct 30th - 17:48pm | Shannon

How depressing - we can only hope that the next president makes a concerted effort to reverse some of these dastardly assaults on our public lands.

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