A Republican senator from Colorado is pushing back against Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's surge-pricing scheme that would more than double entrance fees at 17 popular national parks during the height of the travel seasons, urging the secretary instead to work towards a "legislative solution to the maintenance backlog."
The Interior secretary believes that boosting weekly entrance fees to $70 for such parks as Acadia, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Zion and 13 others would help address the $11-$12 billion maintenance backlog in the National Park System. He also has labeled as "baloney" opposition to his plan, which currently is in limbo while public comments on the proposal are reviewed by the Park Service.
“As a former military, there’s two things we need to fund absolutely: our military and our parks. So come on, America,” Secretary Zinke told a Fox reporter earlier back in November. “If you think that $80, all year, every park, all the time, by a carload, is too much to ask — I mean, come on.”
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner thinks the proposed increase in entrance fees is too much to ask.
“While I share your urgency on the need to address the park maintenance backlog, I have concerns that sudden and dramatic increases in the costs of passes for both private individuals and commercial operations could have unforeseen negative consequences on the communities that rely on visitation to these parks to keep their economies thriving,” Sen. Gardner said in a letter sent to Secretary Zinke last week. “Additionally, I have serious concerns about the elimination of day pass at (Rocky Mountain National Park)."
Under the fee proposal laid out last fall in a press release, "entrance fees would be established at 17 national parks. The peak season for each park would be defined as its busiest contiguous five-month period of visitation."
During the peak season, the release explained, a seven-day-long "entrance fee would be $70 per private, non-commercial vehicle, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person on bike or foot. A park-specific annual pass for any of the 17 parks would be available for $75."
Parks to be affected by these rates, if approved, are "Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Denali, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Olympic, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion national parks with peak season starting on May 1, 2018; in Acadia, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain, and Shenandoah National Parks with peak season starting on June 1, 2018; and in Joshua Tree National Park as soon as practicable in 2018."
Sen. Gardner told the secretary " if the proposal moves forward as written, RMNP would be subject to an increase of over 100 percent and 400 percent on private and commercial passes, respectively, while also eliminating day passes."
"There is an urgent need to address the more than $11 billion dollar maintenance backlog on lands managed by the National Park Service, over $220 million of which is here in Colorado," the senator added a bit later in his letter. "However, we must ensure that any changes we make do not cause a reduction in visitation that could affect the local economies that support the parks. I oppose any immediate fee increases at RMNP and urge you to engage with the stakeholders prior to finalizing any proposal for the fee structure as well as keep the day pass that generates the most revenue for RMNP.
"I stand ready and willing to work with you to find a legislative solution to the maintenance backlog that will more ably address the issue."
Story Categories:
A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
- Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
- Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
- Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
- North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
- Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
- Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
- Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
Comments
I agree, one day passes should be maintained, though with similar increases. Otherwise I would say lacking a proposed alternative for funding, the letter has no validity. You want to keep the parks cheap? Get rid of some of the budget fat and fund them.
They managed to find over $1T for Millionaires and Billionairs, maybe they should have given them $12B less or about 1.2% less and then we could have funded the entire backlog for all 350M Americans
Or, per The Nation magazine last fall: "Take the compensation that defense company CEOs get, for example. The heads of the top five Pentagon contractors—Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman—made a cumulative $96 million last year. These are companies that are significantly or, in the cases of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, almost entirely dependent on government dollars. That means one thing: Your tax dollars are basically paying their exorbitant salaries."