We are on the verge of moving from one of the most vibrant, exciting, and positive years for the National Park System and the National Park Service to the prospect of one of the darker chapters for the parks and their overseeing agency.
Just the mention of Sarah Palin -- "drill baby, drill" - as a possible Interior secretary should signal the tremulous times ahead not only for the National Park System, but for all public lands, under a Trump administration. Imagine the possibilities, regardless of whether Ms. Palin moves into the Interior Department:
* Exploration for oil beneath Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida will not be eyed cautiously, but likely with enthusiasm.
From the Wall Street Journal: "Donald Trump’s surprise victory fanned expectations in the energy industry that he would clear the path for new pipelines, end U.S. participation in global climate change pacts and undo environmental regulations to boost American coal mining."
* Efforts to create a marine reserve zone at Biscayne National Park could be scuttled.
In response to a question on ocean health from Scientific American, candidate Trump responded: "My administration will work with Congress to establish priorities for our government and how we will allocate our limited fiscal resources. This approach will assure that the people’s voices will be heard on this topic and others."
* Salvage logging in the wake of forest fires, promoted in the past by some Republicans from California, could be coming to a national park in the not-too-distant future.
From The Wilderness Society: "The Yosemite Rim Fire Emergency Salvage Act, which was introduced by Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) in September 2013, would have opened up huge swaths of Yosemite and California’s Stanislaus National Forest to private companies so they could cut down trees damaged in the Rim Fire, all without the usual public notice or environmental review."
* A proposed hiring freeze for the federal workforce would, if implemented, exacerbate the stress already felt by an over-stretched NPS workforce.
From the Washington Post: "...Trump is hard to predict. But we know from his statements and positions, and those of his lieutenants, that the coming four years could be tough ones for the federal workforce."
* How much emphasis will the Trump administration place on rooting out sexual harassment, or any other form of harassment, from the Park Service?
If you're wondering about this, you didn't pay attention to the campaign.
* While the Obama administration has worked to reduce air pollution that's impacting the national parks, can the same be expected from a Trump administration?
From Grist.org: "So when Trump says he wants to repeal Obama’s entire Climate Action Plan, which includes the Clean Power Plan, he’s saying that he would increase the kind of pollution that dirties the air we breathe makes people sick. When he says he would revitalize the coal industry (even though he wouldn’t actually be able do it) and spur more oil and gas production, he’s saying the same thing."
* Would it be surprising to see energy development permitted right up to national park boundaries in places?
From Fortune: "When it comes to U.S. energy production, Trump has said that he’s in support of all-the-above energy, from coal to natural gas, and even to solar. However, his major stance on the energy industry is to say he’ll remove regulations."
* The Endangered Species Act could find itself endangered.
From Outdoor Life: "... when asked if there are specific regulations pertaining to forestry, wildlife, water, resource development and so on that a Trump administration would like to reduce or redo, Don Jr. said that “at a minimum, we think the following should be examined and re-evaluated: the Federal Land Management Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the Equal Justice Act and the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act.”"
* How much support will be provided to protect parks from sea level rise?
Well, this one is tough. While President-elect Trump has called climate change a hoax, his staff in Ireland, where he has a coastal golf course, has sought permission to build a wall roughly 65 feet wide to keep the sea off the links.
From the Washington Post: “If the predictions of an increase in sea level rise as a result of global warming prove correct, however, it is likely that there will be a corresponding increase in coastal erosion rates not just in Doughmore Bay but around much of the coastline of Ireland,” the application notes. “In our view, it could reasonably be expected that the rate of sea level rise might become twice of that presently occurring.”
* Visitation to parks could fall as international visitors feel unwelcome.
From Skift: "Euromonitor, international head of travel Caroline Bremner: “Travel and tourism is (sic) directly impacted by government policies on trade and immigration. Trump’s campaign rhetoric focused on immigration and the relationship particularly with Mexico will have a direct bearing on the performance of U.S. tourism, as Mexico is expected to overtake Canada by the end of 2016 to be the largest source of tourism demand to the U.S. The Trump presidency will also impact the flow of Muslim travelers to the U.S., with the Council on Foreign Relations estimating that a potential travel ban on Muslims to the U.S. could cost up to $71 billion per year and up to 132,000 jobs."
Predicting the future in politics is not without risk, but the environment does not seem to rank particularly highly with the president-elect.
The National Park System, with an estimated maintenance backlog of $12 billion, needs help, not fewer protections. True, Donald Trump has talked about the need to invest in the country's infrastructure, and roughly half of the Park Service's backlog is tied up in roads and bridges and other infrastructure. So let's hope he can address that.
But the agency also needs better morale and, in some areas, better leadership. It needs more interpreters to help visitors understand the wonders and history within the system. While we shouldn't treat the parks as open-air zoos, wildlife management needs support -- e.g., the current delisting effort for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem shouldn't be rushed. Serious thought and funding needs to help parks overrun by visitation. Efforts are being made, but the next administration needs to buy into the threat of too much visitation without proper measures for preservation in place.
The incoming Trump administration should not ignore the joyous centennial celebration this year and the support it brought the National Park Service, but embrace it and seek to build on it. But build on it constructively and not simply to see how high visitation can go and how much economic output the parks can generate.
These are uncertain times for the National Park System and the National Park Service. How the Trump administration manages the parks shouldn't be done out of the public's eye. At National Parks Traveler we're moving to bolster our coverage at the exact time the parks and the Park Service need it. Details on this move will be coming in the weeks ahead, and we hope that you'll embrace it and support it.
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Comments
Secretary of the Interior
Possible Contenders:
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
Forrest Lucas, oil executive
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
I do not believe Sarah Palin will become the new Secretary of the Interior or that the Trump Administration will gut and destroy the national park system. We need to wait and see what happens just as we do with every new administration. I think it is a mistake to take a hostile posture toward the new administration before they have even taken office. There is time to wait and see and then we can form our positions and take action if necessary. I would like to remind everyone that the last eight years of the Obama Administration have not been positive years. The maintenance backlog continues to increase, new national monuments are added without any increase in funding and the National Park Service has suffered from its worst period of scandal and mismanagement in its history and the the level of staffing has not increased. Let us hope the Trumph adminstration will be better stewards of our national parks.
This is the Presiden-elect who has announced he will appoint alt-Right Steve Bannon as his chhief strategist.
Wow, the fear mongering. I am so glad the we will see the end of the selfish progressive ideaology that has infected the NPS. From my perpestive past decade has not been good for the NPS.
The country is some $20 trillion dollars in debt. That is the biggest threat to the parks and the country as a whole. Both parties have their pork projects and I suspect this one will be no different but this should be our top priority. I don't see declining visitation to our parks as a negative. In fact it is something I would make a goal. Not by discouraging or targeting specific groups but to enhance the over all experience for eveyone that visits. I saw nothing in Trumps platform that would discourage mexicans from visiting provided they do so legally. If enforcing current immigration laws discourages some then I think we would be discouraging the right people. It is puzzling to me to wring your hands over what actions will or wont be taken to combat global warming but not fret over the millions of cars traveling across the country and into the heart of our parks thanks to over development and over marketing of the parks themselves. As I've stated before, I didn't vote for either candidate but growing very weary of all the bashing coming from both sides. All this speculation does nothing to help. If it was just meant to incite emotion well good job.
Recent estimates have placed Trumps Mexico wall at around 10 billion dollars. And I don't see Mexico antee ing up to fund it. When I watch Trump these days I see a guy with big deer in the headlights syndrome. Now he has to produce. And I suspect that these issues will be small potatoes to him in the wake of all he has shot his mouth off about. At least I hope so. Either Palin or Lucas as Dept of Interior folks is a disaster.
But getting rid of Jewell and Jarvis is one of the best things that will ever happen to the NPS.
I find it hard to believe that even Trump would appoint Sarah Palin as Secretary of the Interior. Though I give her credit for having telescopic vision, being able to see Mother Russia from Wasilla. Maybe Steven Griles will get the job, so he can go to prison again. The next four years will be very challenging for the NPS, but good things often happen during periods of adversity.
You do realize she never said she could see Russia from Wasilla. She commented on how you can see Russia from Alaska, and guess what, you can. Here is her EXACT quote, "They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."
The only comfort if she gets the job is that she'll quit after a year or two.
Here's another column by Peggy Noonan - worth reading and considering:
http://www.peggynoonan.com/
It's the first one on a collection of her recent columns. All worth reading.
(Unfortunately, Noonan's weekly Wall Street Journal columns aren't available online for a week. So this is the one from just before the election. I will be watching for the next. It should be an especially good read.)
I do remember her saying I quit.
Anyone catch the Trump interview on 60 minutes. I caugh much but not all. Didn't seem to be any discussion of NPS or federal lands but I have may have missed it. Otherwise, what could anyone possibly object to? Anti alt-right attacks, OK with LGGTQ, OK with precondition coverage and child covverage. Whats not to like - other than his comments on the electorial college. As I said before, I suspect he will be far less to the right than you fear and more to the left than I would like. Nobody will be 100% happy. Probably means he will be doing a great job.
Jonathan, I stand corrected. But that quote was still pretty ridiculous.
Wonder if any of the planned borrowing for Infrastructure Spending by the TRUMP Administration will find its way into the national parks ?
One tragic reality will be increasing the cumulative national DEBT to 25 $ TRILLION plus ? America's children's' future
is now deep in National DEBT soon to be made worse by the King of Debt and Bankruptcy, Donald J. Trump !
Student DEBT is now estimated over $1.25 TRILLION ! Oh, Good Luck, Younger Americans !
http://grist.org/election-2016/for-national-parks-the-next-4-years-look-...
One tragic reality will be increasing the cumulative national DEBT to 25 $ TRILLION plus ?
If it only goes to 25 Trillion he will be doing 50% better than O. But I suspect he will do even better than that.
And yes, 1.25 trillion in Student Debt is a travesty. But how did we get there? Government intrusion in the student loan business. We should bring this (and many others) devestating government program to a halt.
Some commentators are optimistic about the incoming administration; I hope you're right.
I am not optimistic that President-elect Trump considers public lands and national parks as any type of priority. Can you imagine him on an alpine traverse hike? Can you imagine him shielding his face from blowing sand in the desert southwest? Do you imagine he has even visited a national park? Perhaps he has, but I find it hard to imagine he appreciated it.
Dark days ahead, indeed.
Prospects are not looking good for environmental policies under Trump. He has a fella named Myron Ebell working to help find cabinet members who will make environmental decisions. Ebell is a top dog in Competetive Enterprise Institute. That's a Koch funded organization with the stated objectives of rolling back most of the clean energy polices now in place; dismantling all of Obama's environmental actions; increasing jobs in the energy sectors; and dismantling the EPA.
It's going to be a very long four years during which we will all need to be ready to stand up and fight to prevent turning the calendar back to the days when skies were black and water was filled with oil, chemcials, and sewage.
Ebell doesn't bode well for our future. All of this really scares me -- probably because I'm old enough to remember how it was before the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.
Add to this the news that Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz is renewing his bill that will disarm BLM and Forest Service law enforcement rangers. (No mention of NPS in the bill that I'm aware of . . . yet) Chaffetz wants to push law enforcement authority for federal lands to county sheriffs and local law enforcement. This idea is quite popular with many GOP western congress creatures.
Much of the future well-being of our parks and other public lands will depend on who is named as the next Secretary of the Interior and Director of the National Park Service. Does anyone know the names of the candidates for these positions? The next Director of the National Park Service will be crucially important in view of the mismanagement and incompetence we have suffered during the tenure of John Jarvis. The next Director will have to improve the morale of the agency and fight for people to staff the parks and resources to maintain our facilities. This will not be easy but with the right leadership the National Park Service can be placed back on a solid footing and move on with confidence into the future.
Peggy Noonan's post election Wall Street Journal column just became available online. As usual it is worth reading and considering. Here's a link:
http://www.peggynoonan.com/
Thank you
Lee, I did read the column, must say I was not impressed. I am neither smart enough or informed enough to venture any expert opinions. From the election data I have researched, Secretary Clinton won the popular vote by a million plus. Peggy is right about the nonvoters, almost 1/2 of our citizens did not vote. Mr. Trump is a master demagogue, I tried to listen to many of his speech's, my reaction, fear, intolerance, racism. In my opinion, his announced picks so far for cabinet positions do not bode well for the agencies mentioned. With roughly 25% of vote, I see little mandate for the Trump administration and many rocky roads to travel for the duration of his term. Please excuse being off topic, this is a parks blog, I hope I am wrong, it will be interesting to watch it unfold.
I agree, Ron. But the main point of Ms. Noonan's column was that we're stuck with him, so we have no choice but to try to make the best of it.
We have been betrayed by our Congress, by both political parties, by those who have managed through various chicanery of all kinds to have hijacked our government for selfish gain. What kind of choice did any of us have at the ballot? Only two that were, by any measure, absolutely horrible. As a result, fear rules the nation now. Half our voters are like my children who decided not to vote because there was simply no one worth casting a ballot for. And so a person who was one of two terrible choices was elected. The trouble is, it's pretty obvious right now as members of the "successful" party jockey for positions and power, it may be that we are facing even greater betrayal than before. Watching reports as I flipped back and forth today between CNN and FOX while I was treadmilling at the gym, it appears that there is a very strong chance that the clown who was elected is being set up for manipulation by those heady with power. So where do we go from here -- and how?
We don't just have a swamp to drain. We have an ugly, foul cesspool that needs to be pumped and purified. It looks like we're just going to have even more of the same stuff flowing into the cesspool -- perhaps in even greater quantities.
Those of us who value the parks and many other aspects of America (indeed the world itself) that now may be at risk must remain vigilant and prepared to act in any way we can when it becomes necessary. And it surely will become necessary.
Federal Employees, some of whom may have voted for Trump
may be subject to Steve Bannon, now labeled a Nazi !
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/11/21/trump-republ...
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/21/politics/howard-dean-steve-bannon-nazi/ind...
Leon G. Billings, Architect of Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, Dies at 78
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/18/us/politics/leon-billings-dead.html?re...
Will the Trump Administration Succeed in Undoing the
Achievements of Cleaner Air and Water Programs ?
There are still a number of apparently reliable reports out there that Sarah Palin is under serious consideration to become Trump's Secretary of Interior. Here is a post this morning from PEER:
http://www.peer.org/news/news-releases/reminders-why-palin-would-be-terr...
Its about time. Who could complain, other than a government employee that has been milking the system.
Eric - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. The x's are where I deleted my sincere request for you to closely examine yourself, intimately.
Overly broad brush much? Who could complain? The vast majority of the government employees who have been working their arse's off in public service. Firing poor performers, no problem, except where it is a tool of retribution. Lower pensions? Hiring freezes?
You and your soulless greed are beneath contempt. In deference to Kurt I won't put it more simply in terms I learned as a platoon sergeant, but then I'm certain you never served yourself.
But EC, aren't they just taking advantage of the existing legal system the way folks like Trump and Romney do when they pay a lower percentage of their incomes in taxes than their secretaries, or no taxes at all? If it's OK for them to "milk" the system, why shouldn't federal employees?
I'd be curious to learn whether folks and businesses that avoid paying their fair share in taxes by loopholes and off-shore practices have a greater negative impact on federal revenues than the workforce.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/13/pf/taxes/gao-corporate-taxes/
The $20-30 TRILLION DOLLAR TICKING TIME BOMB: WATCHOUT, FEDERAL AGENCY BUDGETS
PREDICTIONS by David Stockman TIME TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUnYXHeqhaY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV5DKbXEUNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noBlZvKjQyg#t=197.487199
Trumped! A Nation on the Brink of Ruin... And How to Bring It Back Paperback – October 14, 2016
by David A. Stockman (Author)
Eventually, our economy will be bogged down in
a dreadful recession because of US Cumulative DEBT
estimated today at $20 Trillion, but going to $30
Trillion with any approval of Trump's Spending Binge.
Soon, federal agencies will suffer hiring freezes and
budget cuts; so the Outlook for National Park
funding is dismal; the only hope is that some of
the planned Infrastructure Funding finds it way into
our national park system. The World is drowning
in DEBT, so, the long-term Outlook remains dismal !
When Entitlement spending, Interest on the cumulative
debt, Health care and Military costs are all added together, there is truly nothing left.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgApY7nX1lY
KSL Radio's morning talk show mentioned that Rob Bishop "may" be under consideration to become Secretary of Interior.
The chairman of Trump's Utah campaign said he could not confrim nor deny it at this time. But assured everyone that in between angry tweets about all the imaginary voting fraud, DJT is looking for "the best qualified people" for his cabinet.
Utah Mormon Attempts To Block A Monumental Gift To the American People
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/07/02/utah-mormon-attempts-block-monume...
By Rmuse on Sat, Jul 2nd, 2016 at 2:51 pm
The Park Service is set to receive a 87,500 acre donation of pristine land in the Maine Woods from a non-profit organization. Republicans say NO!
Total crock.
To President-Elect Donald Trump the world is a stage, and he is the star of the show. If he sees national parks as backdrops for his craft of public outreach/minipulation the parks may actually prosper. National parks have a great deal of national support, so he may be encouraged to be supportive - as long as there is a quid pro quo that benefits his agenda and personal image. Who he selects as the Secretary of the Interior should tell us where his agenda is directed. The NPS survived James Watt, albeit with a degree of pain. My primary concern is that the parks will be seen as bargaining chips for vested commercial interests, including resource extraction corporations. The best defense is an effective offense. That includes remaining vigilant and being ready and willing to speak out on controversial issues. The President-Elect and his appointed NPS Director should be congratulated for any positive actions and roundly criticized for those that threaten the parks.
Excellent points Ray, thank you for all your efforts. I want to share your approach but must admit , at this point, I am not very optimistic.
Excellent points, Ray. And we all need to renew our memberships and support of organizations that will stand up to him when needed.
Salt Lake KSL Channel 5 news just reported that Rob Bishop and Trump will meet soon to discuss Bishop's proposal that Trump undo the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and possibly other areas as well.
Deseret News, the SLC conservative newspaper, had this report this morning : http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865668520/Bishop-to-meet-with-Trump-t...
Thank you Ray, I agree with everything you said. Great post!
Sorry Kurt, I missed your comment from the 22nd. Yes they (government employees) are taking advantage of the system. I didn't say or imply they were doing anything illegal but that many are just parasites or even worse as many due damage as well. And no Buffett doesn't pay a lower rate on earned income than his Secretary. That is what we call "fake news". As to fair share, tell me, why should person A have to pay more than person B? When you go to lunch with friends, do you divide the bill based on income? Now there is a reason person A needs to pay more than B but the liberals won't like or admit it. After your explaination, I will give you mine.
As to 20% of corporations not paying taxes, I suspect that too is fake news, I will have to research it. But as I have said before, I wish the reported number were 100% as corporations really don't pay taxes, you do. The current system just puts a huge, wastefull bueaucracy in betwen you and Uncle Sam's pocket and creates incentives for corporations to take their jobs overseas where taxes are substantially lower.
EC, I guess you better tell Warren that he's spreading fake news.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/04/news/economy/buffett-secretary-taxes/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/oct/18/hillary-c...
And here's a headstart on your research regarding corporations that paid no taxes:
http://www.ctj.org/corporatetaxdodgers/sorrystateofcorptaxes.php
http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/13/pf/taxes/gao-corporate-taxes/
http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/675844.pdf
Yes he is, you might note he has a poliitical slant. There is a difference between earned income "salary" and unearned income (municpal interest, dividends, capital gains). He pays a higher rate than his secretary on his earned income but, because so much more of his income is unearned income which is taxed at lower rates, his overall tax rate is lower. Why are they taxed at lower rates? Because 1) the money was already taxed once before and/or 2) The system wants to encourage investment.
So the headline that he pays a lower tax rate makes good fake news, but once you know the details, it is a very different story.
Again it sad that only 27 companies out of thousands supposedly paid no taxes (As I said I will research how true that really is), I wish it were all of them.
Oh, and how bout that question why person A should pay more than person B?
Ah, a little research reveals the "fake news". That article is comparing reported income, as required by FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) to taxes paid. Taxes aren't based on FASB standards, they are based IRS accounting standards. Under the IRS accounting standards, these companies weren't making profits over the time frames your report covers. Once again, the average Joe isn't aware of these different standards and so it is easy to generate fake news with this attention grabbing headlines.