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National Park Service Agrees, Conditionally, to Keep Yellowstone's Sylvan Pass Open For Snowmobiling

Jul 24th - 17:26pm | jsmacdonald

Kurt took some flack for fingering Cheney on this decision (see this); now the

Jul 23rd - 19:52pm | Daryl S

Man, Over 8,000 per smowmobiler. In todays society that is an incredible waste. I am glad I stopped machining a few years ago. I couldn'd see my pleasure ruining the future of others. Stop this maddness.

Jul 23rd - 10:23am | jsmacdonald

If the money from that were spent "helping" the bison and elk herds the way they've been "helping" the bison herds in the past winters - with all the slaughter; then no thank you.

Jul 23rd - 07:26am | Anonymous

This is ridiculous. The money they will use for this initiative could be better spent helping the bison and elk herd.

Is the National Park Service Obligated to Better Promote Proposed Change in Gun Regulations?

Jul 24th - 15:25pm | Doc

MRC:

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

Jul 24th - 14:25pm | Chris Meissen

If you honestly believe that there's no crime in National Parks then I invite you to come spend some time on the Ozark Scenic Riverways during the summer. Better yet, have your teenaged or early twenties daughter camp in one of those parks, alone.

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Jul 24th - 14:18pm | Fred Miller

Thanks Anonymous. I wish I had your skill with words. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said here. See you in the Parks.

Jul 24th - 11:03am | Anonymous

Some years ago, while fishing at a local lake that is in an "out of the way" rural area adjoining the city I live in, I was accosted by a group of drunken teenagers. These five punks had knives and clubs. If it had just been me, I might not have been so annoyed, or I might have just run away. However, I had my wife, 9 year old daughter and 6 year old son with me.

Jul 22nd - 14:05pm | Random Walker

That reminds me of what a very close old friend exclaimed when he was told he would then be shot back at, "Finally, things are gettin' interesting!"

Jul 22nd - 09:37am | Lone Hiker

One last item that requires clarification---

Why Stop At Golden Gate National Recreation Area? What Other NRAs, Monuments, Etc., Should Be Renamed?

Jul 24th - 11:39am | Carne Asada Torta

There is at least one pratical reason for the name change that is not, and will not, be mentioned in any of the news articles. For many years Golden Gate has struggled to proactively preserve its natural resources from organized dog walker associations.

Jul 23rd - 10:31am | walker

Right on Jsherman; the GGNRA was established to provide a place for all of us to recreate in the numerous ways that we do: some on foot, some by bike, some on horse, some on surfboard, some with dog, some without, some in a car, some not.

Jul 23rd - 10:10am | Bill Wade

As some on this site will know, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees is on record (and pushing in every way we know how) for the establishment of a Centennial Commission to analyze many of the existing institutional processes and the overall governance of the National Park System.

Jul 22nd - 20:11pm | Bugsyshallfall

Sometimes a resource is not always seen, like how some hot springs have An important pre-historic Native american quarry worth protecting. Moreover, a park does not have to be big it just has to be important and of national importance or awareness. But people associate the phrase National Park with a lot of things, which is why there are so many names.

Jul 22nd - 15:34pm | jsherman

To clarify for ALL readers, the Pelosi bill is not merely a name change, but strikes every occurrence of the word "recreation" out of the enabling legislation of the GGNRA. That Pelosi staffers call this a "name change," merely cosmetic to "raise the status" of the park, with no impact on the administration of the park, is simply laughable.

Jul 21st - 21:43pm | Rangertoo

The last few comments have made my point for me. No one knows what the designations mean. There is not hierarchy of parks and a national "park" is not an elevation of any kind. It is a name change and nothing more unless the legislation specific to the park also changes. As noted, Congress, courts, and the 1978 Redwood Act as amended specify that all units are managed the same.

Jul 21st - 21:00pm | Kirby Adams

This is quite the education.

Jul 21st - 17:02pm | SaltSage236

Absolutely. This is the ideal time to have this conversation. The watering-down issue is interesting because this often occurs in wilderness designation.

Jul 21st - 15:08pm | Kurt Repanshek

Some good points, SaltSage236.

Jul 21st - 14:54pm | SaltSage236

The "national park" designation for a piece of the public estate should (and often does) carry with it the distinction of truly being one of the nation's natural or historic crown jewels -- an often broad range of protected natural resources and unspeakable beauty, or a place, such as Mesa Verde, that protects an area that speaks deeply about a region's and culture's history.

Jul 21st - 12:33pm | Rangertoo

Here, here. There should be only two kinds of units: National Parks, National Historical Parks. No right-minded organization would allow its brand to be as diluted as the NPS has with 19 different kinds of units. These "holier than thou" esoteric discussions of what is, and is not. a "national park" are ridiculous. THE PUBLIC DOES NOT CARE!

Jul 21st - 09:43am | Random Walker

The President can declare an area as a National Monument without approval from Congress.

Jul 21st - 08:13am | Mookie

Does the Department of the Interior, or Congress, or any government agency, have any sort of guidelines to differentiate what should be "labeled" a National Park vs. National Monument?

Jul 21st - 08:11am | Marylander

Changing a name means absolutely nothing if you do not fund the change!! I agree that changes should be made in some areas (not all areas!) but let's be honest, with the economy zooming downwards, the war sucking up every resource we have... there isn't going to be any positive change in funding for our parks even though they deserve it.

Jul 21st - 07:31am | Anonymous

Speaker Pelosi should be ashamed for promoting this idea. [edited]

At Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Things are Not Always as They Seem

Jul 24th - 09:09am | Anonymous

A lecture and a stern "don't do it again" doesn't cut in my book for punishment for carrying a potent AK-47 into a National Recreation Area. There's nothing cute about this weapon, for it's main purpose is to annihilate and kill as many people possible.

Jul 24th - 07:52am | Mookie

It reminds of the great scene from "The Naked Gun":

Had a Good Laugh Yet Today? Congress Wants You to Believe that the Lower Taunton River is “Wild and Scenic”

Jul 24th - 07:38am | Bob Janiskee

A few points of clarification. 1) I certainly did not mean to imply that supporters of this Wild and Scenic River designation are "lining their pockets." Ron may prefer to speak for himself in this matter, but I think he meant "up for sale" in the broad, generic sense of the term.

Jul 24th - 00:06am | Anonymous

I like your point about the Narragansett Bay. Will this act, "legal" or not, prevent further pollution?? Will this act help to clean up any polluters?? If the Congress were more honest, they would 1) go after the polluters; and 2) write a law to prevent gas lines in so tightly congested populated area. Yes, if you have answers to my questions, please send news!

Jul 23rd - 18:37pm | Anonymous

No offence, Bob: but I don't think there is anything in this story or any of the comments showing that elected officials are lining their pockets, regardless of whether we may or may not feel this legislation ought to be passed. Do I miss your point somehow?

Jul 23rd - 13:40pm | ron

It just goes to show you that this country is still up for sale, even by those that we elect to protect us. As long as they can line their own pockets then the "end does justify the means".

Jul 23rd - 11:19am | Bob Janiskee

Anon, I do understand the provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; after all, it's been around for forty years. It's just that your first point addresses an issue that is not at all as simple as you seem to imply. The lower Taunton would be designated under the "recreational" classification of the act. That's the technical point. Now here is the IMPORTANT point.

Jul 23rd - 09:13am | Anonymous

Bob -- two points on the Taunton: 1. As was covered in a previous thread of yours, in the law, you are either a 'Wild' or a 'Scenic' but not a 'Wild & Scenic' river. It is called the "Wild & Scenic Rivers System," a system that also includes 'Recreational' as a category. What is the proposed category for the Taunton??

Jul 22nd - 18:19pm | Bugsyshallfall

If you read the study, the most important thing about the river is how untouched it really is. The study also mainly focuses on the upper part which as undeveloped has some very important Archeological sites. In the end, the study should have only recommended the upper part not the lower.

National Park Quiz 12: The Fair Sex

Jul 23rd - 12:02pm | Bob Janiskee

"Among the first" (1834, 1836) is a true statement, though obviously not as conceptually tidy as you'd like. :-) There were several strikes (then called "turn-outs"), including at least three in the textile industry, in the late 1820s and early 1830s.

Jul 23rd - 09:22am | Lepanto

Thanks for the interesting Quiz, Bob, but what if we don't want to rest on our laurels?? Or shouldn't ! I am concerned that Lowell may be wrong in claiming their priority on strikes by women. My understanding is that in Pawtucket RI and Troy NY women had way larger and earlier roles in leading and participating in strikes than in Lowell. But I am no historian.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Jul 22nd - 15:51pm | pkrnger

During the heat of summer, camping at Cedar Breaks National Monument at over 10,000 feet offers welcome relief from the extreme temperatures experienced at lower elevations. In fact, nighttime temperatures can go below freezing, even during July. The night sky at this elevation is outstanding.

Former NPS Director George Hartzog Passes

Jul 22nd - 13:13pm | Randy Wilcox

I had the great privilege of driving George Hartzog to his dialysis and doctors appointments during the last seven months of his life. This proved to be one of the great experiences of my life. Though many years my senior, Mr. Hartzog insisted on me calling him George. This took some time getting used to, but he made it clear in no uncertain terms that “Mr.” was unacceptable.

National Park Quiz 2: Straddlers

Jul 22nd - 09:36am | Anonymous

i love it

National Park Service Struggles to Restore and Protect Historic Sightlines at Manassas National Battlefield Park

Jul 22nd - 09:02am | CivilWarBuff

I think I see what Mr. Flint is getting at--if the locals are so worried about losing trees, then they should have protested when the developers came in and built the thousands of townhouses and McMansions that crowd the Manassas landscape.

Jul 21st - 10:36am | Kirby Adams

Quite the dilemma. As a nature-lover and ecologist, my NPS traveling is largely limited to the nature-centric parks. Those parks preserve the nature of a place, unsullied by human hands. On the other hand, it seems to me a battlefield park is in place to preserve a landscape that was quite heavily sullied by human actors acting out one of our nation's darkest plays.

Jul 21st - 09:42am | Anonymous

And? I'm afraid I don't see your point.

Jul 21st - 09:14am | Richard H. Flint II

Developers cut down more trees in a month in Prince William County than there are in all of the Park.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Settlement Won't Ban ORV Use, But Will Restrict Travel

Jul 21st - 16:18pm | Anonymous

The problem stems from mis-use of a great resource. I have been going to the CHNS since 1978 and have seen alot of changes. Many of those have been for the worse. Topping that list is the over crowding in many areas. This leads to abuse of the areas. Im all for restrictions in these areas durring the peak season months.

Dying in the Parks: Park Service Concerned About Suicides

Jul 21st - 15:44pm | SaltSage236

A friend of mine and I, cycling Colorado National Monument last November, were the ones who found the 63-year-old man with the gunshot wound to his head at Cold Shivers Point. As an Associated Press story elucidated recently, Colorado National Monument is becoming quite the popular suicide spot.

NPCA, TWS Presidents Meet With Canadian Ambassador To Seek Solution to Development in Flathead Valley

Jul 21st - 14:04pm | Betty H

This is a very wonderous part of North America where wildlife actually have large areas of mostly undeveloped habitat for migration and genetic diversity ! It must be saved as it truly is the crown jewel area of the lower 48.

Superintendents' Summit Raises Both Issues and Questions

Jul 20th - 21:01pm | Rick Smith

Beamis-- The idea that the states or municipalities are going to take over the adminstration of national park areas runs counter to the prevailing trend: the assumption of areas like Gateway and Golden Gate by the NPS when local and state management entities can no longer afford them. Which level of government has the deepest pockets?

Judge Restores ESA Protection for Wolves in Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem-Updated

Jul 19th - 20:53pm | Anonymous

Let's just hope the irate ranchers that despise Judge Molloy's ruling (and would be poachers) keep their long guns at bay. Empty the bullet chambers and let the wolves help balance nature once again...as it's intended to do!

Jul 19th - 15:55pm | Shawn

Now that is one step in the right direction! If the government would keep their "grubby" little hands out of everything, then maybe, just maybe, we could take more steps in the right direction. God put the animals on the earth, who are we to remove them???

Glacier National Park Officials Again Voice Opposition to Railroad's Avalanche Blasting Proposal

Jul 19th - 16:32pm | Shawn

Build the sheds!, don't bomb the park!!! After all, Mother Nature was already here, the railroad came along and built the tracks through this section, they should build the sheds to protect them, not destroy the animal life or the enviroment!!!!

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