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Do You Care About Energy Exploration Near Our National Parks?

Jul 7th - 00:16am | Kath

I wouldn't approve of drilling in the traditional national parks. But ANWR is huge and the oil drilling would be on a tiny percentage of the land. The 800 mile pipeline crosses Alaska and has had no significant problems. We have to remember that most of the national parks were not virgin territory. They were mined, logged and ranched. And now they're parks.

Jul 6th - 15:24pm | Anonymous

Sounds to me Kath your afraid to give up your SUV or make alternative lifestyle changes just yet...just kidding! They just did news brief a couple weeks ago on the decline of the fishing industry in the Port of Valdez and how poorly it has recovered.

Jul 6th - 11:41am | Kath

Also just returned from a cruise of Prince William Sound where the Exxon Valdez ran aground and spilled the oil. I saw no evidence of the oil spill, thankfully. It has been 19 years. Since then the Port of Valdez requires a harbor escort further out into the sound, which is dotted with islands and underwater rocks. Prince William Sound is as beautiful as any national park.

Jul 6th - 10:48am | Anonymous

Kath, what would recover faster from environmental degradation, heavy tourism in Denali or a major oil spill in ANWR...remember the Alaskan oil spill at the Port of Valdez? How long did it take to recover after the major spill (plus the local fishing industry has not fully recovered yet)? According to local fisherman, the place still stinks with oil.

Jul 6th - 10:32am | Mark111

Interesting reading all the comments that seem to be on both sides of the issue. Delay of exploration and further development of nuclear plants caused by environmental outcry 10-20 years ago is why we are in the situation that we are in. To delay another 10-20 years while we debate will not make it any better.

Jul 5th - 23:22pm | Kath

I Just returned from two weeks in Alaska. There I learned that the proposed site for oil exploration in ANWR is five miles, just five miles over the boundary line for the refuge. If environmental controls were tight, the 2,000 acres that would be used out of the 3.5 million acres seems as though it would have a very small impact on the entirety of the refuge.

Jul 5th - 12:53pm | Lone Hiker

Solar panel as currently engineered as lacking in efficiency to be sure. But the required modifications to the "layering" that would increase the viable wavelengths from the current single to a multiple nanometer collection panel are available now.

Jul 5th - 12:35pm | Scot M.

The question is whether this is necessity or convenience. In 1942-1945 the National Park Service had Newton Drury as its Director. Then as now, there were calls from big business and the politicians on their side to enter national parks and extract natural resources.

Jul 5th - 10:51am | Anonymous

I get the feeling from this blog, there's few individuals would rather see us drown in Big Oil (at the whims of oil executives) then give up frivolous style changes. I see a bit of propaganda for oil exploration off are coastal waters...even when ninety percent of are coastal fringes are dying from heavy pollution. Folks, the oceans are showing strong signs sulfuric acid poisoning.

Jul 5th - 09:42am | BLJ

Oil is sold on a global market. The oil found in our country is NOT sold to us at a discount because it was found here. Any oil found through more exploration will never be enough to offset the increased usage in China, India and Brazil. Think back to China 5-10 years ago, the cities were jammed with bicyclists, but today there streets are crowded with more cars than our own.

Jul 5th - 09:15am | Barky

I want to point out that solar energy farms are not viable for electricity generation and pose real hazards of their own to the environment. The electrical output per acre of solar panels is surprisingly small, so to meet the energy needs of a city like New York you'd need a tremendous amount of land surface, greater than the size of the city itself.

Jul 5th - 00:32am | Mark111

We need to become energy independent and need to do it soon. The reason we are in this predicament is due to the people who yelled to stop exploration in this country over the past 10-20 years and yelled about the building of additional nuclear plants. I like the national parks as much as the next person does, but what if nobody can afford to go to them because energy is too expensive?

Jul 4th - 13:49pm | BLJ

So more drilling in the US bu US companies will stop THEM from taking over OUR land?!?! How does that make any sense? We will never be energy self-sufficient as the simple fact is as a country we use more energy than we could ever find within our national borders. The only solution is alternative energy. I think the recent increase in oil is exactly what we need and deserve.

Jul 4th - 12:48pm | Fred Miller

We need to preserve our beautiful Parks, but we've got to be smart about it. If we don't become energy self-sufficient soon, we are going to become slaves to all of of our current energy suppliers. Once we're in THEIR control, you can be sure THEY will drill wherever they want (including IN our Parks) and we won't be able to do anything about it.

Jul 4th - 11:26am | Marylander

I read an interesting proposal not too long ago for solar farms out in Nevada... I am all for exploring the potential of the solar farms that Germany seems to making such great strides with before I am for drilling and mining. If Germany can do it with great success... why can't we?

Jul 4th - 10:46am | rscottjones

Alternative energies ARE ALREADY HERE AND VIABLE. I keep hearing about the cost, which is certainly more than the cost of traditionally subsidized energy sources. But if you remove those old subsidies, or add on similar subsidies to alternative energy production, then the cost different disappears and depending on who you talk to, may in fact reverse itself.

Jul 4th - 10:33am | Anonymous

Isn't ironic when the Bush & Cheney regime is due to leave office the gas prices go up...how convenient! Now, it's all out massive attempt and assault by this corrupt administration to explore some of the worlds most pristine and sacred places called our National Parks...for what...more oil?

Jul 4th - 09:46am | Barky

The harsh fact is it will take decades to develop truly reliable alternative energy solutions that meet our needs, even with conservation. The goal should be to reduce fossil fuel use, for sure, but there are no clear-cut solutions.

Jul 4th - 07:51am | B Howell

With our energy usage, it is impossible to drill our way out of the energy crunch. Facts are facts and I do not want to destroy what makes our natural world so wonderful to get the costs down a few pennies at the pump ! I do not want to live in a world devoid of beautiful natural settings with its wildlife.

Jul 4th - 05:36am | Anonymous

more drilling won't completely solve the problem but I am in favor of responsible exploration.

Comment Period for Proposed Gun Rule Change in National Parks Extended 30 Days

Jul 6th - 22:09pm | Lone Hiker

Censorship directed from the top Mr. Longstreet? Ah, American lobbyists showing their truly gutless colors. Pity that those who this affects most are at the same time the least informed that changes are being considered.

Jul 6th - 21:50pm | Anonymous

Above, Bill R insists that even if it continues to be illegal to carry loaded, concealed weapons in our national parks, he'll be "packing" (a gun, I assume, and not a picnic basket) to protect himself from nudists and, apparently, Charles Manson. Of course, breaking this law would make Bill a criminal, not one of those "law abiding citizens" we hear so much about from the NRA.

Jul 6th - 17:42pm | J Longstreet

Frank N -- You're absolutely right. And park managers have been all but told not to bring it up locally. J Longstreet A National Park Superintendent

Jul 5th - 17:10pm | Frank N

Where I would like to see comments collected would be at the gates of our National Parks. My guess is that your AVERAGE, actual bona fide visitor has no idea that this is even being considered; while you can bet your bottom dollar that every single NRA member has received an e-mail or mailing instructing them to comment, whether they ever actually visit National Parks or not. What do you bet?

Jul 5th - 16:39pm | J Longstreet

In response to Fred Miller, who asks "why bother" to solicit comments if "they just do what they want anyway" ...

Jul 5th - 13:27pm | Fred Miller

Kurt - you're right on about the snowmobile issue and the comments. Almost makes you wonder why they bother to solicit comments. They just do what they want anyway. Whatever happened to "We the people"?

Jul 5th - 12:10pm | Anonymous

I guess the question is, why do we need to allow loaded, concealed weapons in the parks? How many of the millions and millions and visitors to our national parks have been killed in the parks over, say, the last ten years? Hardly any is the answer. So what is the need for this change in the law? What do we need of protection from, except for other people with guns?

Jul 5th - 08:53am | Kurt Repanshek

Fred, totaling the votes doesn't matter when the government considers public comments. If that were the case, there wouldn't be any recreational snowmobiling in Yellowstone, where there were tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of more votes against snowmobiling than for snowmobiling.

Jul 5th - 08:33am | Bill R.

I really do not care what the final event is, I packing. I will not shoot an animal that is not on top of me! I will not shoot a person who is not trying to abuse my civil rights to enjoy myself in the great outdoors! Simple. Know there are idiots who would fire into the dark and that is what scares me though.

Jul 4th - 23:29pm | Fred Miller

Had a little time on my hands and I was curious so I did another unscientific sampling. I selected pages at random: 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 39, 44, and 57. I read the comments on each of those pages. There should have been 100 comments but I might have counted one twice. Guess what the results were. You're RIGHT!!

Jul 4th - 22:20pm | Fred Miller

Thanks for the information, I'll pass it on.

Should Anything Be Done With Angel's Landing?

Jul 6th - 14:45pm | kent

There used to be a trail up to the summit of lady mountain in zion. In fact it was one of the first in Zion, it was similar to the angels landing trail with installed chains/railings to help people through the scary/difficult sections. However the numerous deaths that occurred from falling, prompted them to remove all the chains and official signage from the trail.

Critics: Changing Gun Laws in National Parks Would Open a "Pandora's Box" of Problems

Jul 6th - 14:40pm | dan

The Heller case just decided by the supreme court gives us the right of being able to keep and bear arms. In other words, it gives us the constitutional right to own a firearm as long as it is not unusual. It also was ruled that we have a right to use these firearms. As long as the use is for a law abiding act.

Will The Superintendent's Summit Chart The Path For The National Park Service's Next Chapter?

Jul 6th - 10:16am | Anonymous

This conference is a waste of time and money. Just look at the topics and speakers. Mostly led by superintendents who are selected friends and favorites of the Director. The Chair of the conference is a low level superintendent, not a senior superintendent of SES. And two days?

Protest Against American Revolution Center at Valley Forge National Historical Park Planned for May 15

Jul 6th - 00:06am | Anonymous

There is already a welcome center for Valley Forge Park located near King of Prussia. Expand on that (underground preferably) to include the history of the Revolutionary War (which it already does), but don't ruin the beautiful landscape that is the lesser known part of Valley Forge. There is very little nature left in America untouched.

Cascade Pass, North Cascades National Park

Jul 5th - 17:52pm | pkrnger

I have hiked this trail several times. I consider it to be among the very best short hikes in the entire National Park System. Owen Hoffman Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Yellowstone National Park Sees Record Visitation in June

Jul 5th - 10:30am | jsmacdonald

Good questions. I know when I give them my annual pass, they scan it each time - which seems to count as a visit. So, when I camped in the Tetons, they seemed to count my entries into Yellowstone twice (once at the West and once again at the South Entrance).

Jul 4th - 11:25am | Frank N

I talked to several locals during the month of June and almost universally they were talking about how "empty" the park was. Much less traffic than normal for June, they were saying. Personally, I only visited twice during June and my impression was that there was SLIGHTLY less traffic than normal. Certainly fewer RV's.

Jul 3rd - 10:25am | jsmacdonald

Unfortunately, we don't have a demographic breakdown of the numbers. From my recent visit, there seems to be a lot of foreign visitors taking advantage of a weak dollar. One I talked to about the price of airlines said it was nothing because the dollar was so weak.

Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road Open End to End

Jul 4th - 20:32pm | Boo Boo

This is an obvious sign of global warming and we should all be scared out of our shamies. And, beware of the global warming in Antarctica. Not only did the continent record it's greatest ice coverage on record last year but are about 60% above that level this year. be afraid, be very afraid of global warming!!!

Prescribed Fire in Grand Canyon National Park Now Out of Control

Jul 4th - 16:17pm | Rangertoo

What. again? A prescribed fire in 2004 on the south rim quickly burned out of control and all the way to the rim. It killed trees over many acres at the south entrance road/Desert View junction and will not recover in our lifetime. The man in charge of prescribed fires for Grand Canyon was given award earlier this year for the quality of his work.

Jul 3rd - 14:58pm | Lone Hiker

Evidently a bit of sarcasm can be lost on some folks.

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

Jul 4th - 01:11am | Scotty

Sad that so many are so vehemently against fellow citizens exercizing a Right. I pray that a day comes when gun ownership/posession is an unremarkable thing. The fear of guns and those who posess them is insanity bred by an incessant media equating guns with crime.

National Park History: Renaming National Parks Can Show Respect for Native Cultures

Jul 3rd - 14:34pm | Rangertoo

Bob - take heart. You can always visit Marys Nipples, Utah; Janies Nipples, Idaho; or Mollys Nipples, Nevada. The USGS has not changed those names yet. (And why are they all in the West?)

Jul 3rd - 13:12pm | MRC

Academics are so predictable. You can't resist intellectual temptation. You claimed, that you didn't want to know - I showed you the link - and you had to check it. With knowledge just one click away, there was no way you could have resisted.

Jul 3rd - 10:01am | Bob Janiskee

Darn it, MRC. I TOLD you I didn't want to know! :-)

Jul 3rd - 09:59am | Rangertoo

As to why the name of the mountain has not been changed to Denali: the Ohio Congressional delegation, home of McKinley, has long objected to the name change. This link provides a good synopsis of the name issue at Denali. http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/l/loewen-lies.html

What do People Take Home from a Visit to Gettysburg National Military Park?

Jul 3rd - 12:21pm | Bob Janiskee

I can't be sure, Jim, but I strongly suspect that the trees you saw were some of those slated for clearing needed to restore the sightlines of the July 1863 battlefield. The Park Service planned to remove trees (some? all?) from nearly 600 acres (that's almost one square mile) in the park.

Jul 3rd - 11:59am | jsmacdonald

The park, like other military parks like nearby Antietam or the Battle of Little Bighorn, have an especially creepy feeling about them. You feel the death around you; that's a large part of why I like them. They are true reminders of the devastation of war.

Florine and Hirayama Regain the Nose Route Speed-Climb Record at Yosemite National Park

Jul 3rd - 10:30am | Anonymous

A remarkable feat indeed but Mark Wellman and Mike Corbett's El Capitan climb in 1989 was more stunning. Mr. Wellman being a paraplegic was being hauled up with arduous physical unionism with Mike Corbett to the top of El Capitan in phenomenal execution strength. Unmatched so far in human spirit and strength!

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