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Backlog Of Deferred Maintenance In National Park System Takes Roughly $600 Million Drop

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Year after year after year, the dollars attached to the deferred maintenance bill across the National Park System continued a slow, but steady, upward march. Until 2016, when the National Park Service was actually able to slice roughly $600 million off the total, dropping it to $11.3 billion from an estimated high of $12 billion.

Interestingly, almost exactly half ($5.668 billion) of the backlog is ascribed to roads, while the other half ($5.663 billion) is attached to "facilities," which includes campgrounds, dams and water systems along with lodgings, housing, and hiking trails.

"The 2016 NPS deferred maintenance total reflects a $305 million decrease in the maintenance backlog for paved roads, but repairs for non-transportation items — such as buildings, campgrounds, trails, and waste water systems — actually increased," Marcia Argust, director of the Restore America's Parks program at the Pew Charitable Trusts, said last week in an email. "A $600 million decrease in the backlog is a positive step, but $11.3 billion of deferred maintenance at our national parks is still unacceptable. If we really want to ensure our national park sites are maintained for future generations, Congress needs to make a significant investment in NPS infrastructure and facilities."

Efforts are being mounted in Congress to address the backlog. Earlier this year, Sens. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, introduced legislation aimed at chewing steadily away at the backlog, but over a 30-year period. Identical, companion legislation was introduced into the House this past week by Reps. Derek Kilmer, D-Washington, Will Hurd, R-Texas, Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, and Dave Reichert, R-Washington.

As proposed, the legislation calls for annual appropriations aimed specifically at reducing, and eventually eliminating, the backlog. If passed by Congress and signed by the president, the legislation would budget $50 million in annual appropriations for fiscal years 2018-2020; $150 million for fiscal years 2021-2023; $250 million for fiscal years 2024-2026; and $500 million for fiscal years 2027-2047.

Revenues the government receives for oil and natural gas royalties would be tapped to pay for the work.

“I grew up near Olympic National Park and gained an appreciation for how much our national parks do to captivate visitors and create jobs,” said Rep. Kilmer. “But many of our most iconic landscapes and historical buildings are falling into disrepair. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort that will be an economic boost to rural communities and keep our parks accessible for future generations.”

Back at Pew, Ms. Argust welcomed the House legislation.

“This bill proves that the call for Congress to fix our aging parks is being heard. More than 75 municipalities have passed resolutions asking Congress to restore our park infrastructure. And more than 1,800 organizations, businesses, associations, chambers of commerce, and elected officials have signed a letter urging congressional lawmakers to provide dedicated funding to repair the national parks by reducing the size of their deferred maintenance backlog," she said in a release that came out the day the House legislation was introduced. “This legislation can make a difference. Rehabilitating the historic buildings and other infrastructure in our national parks will ensure that future generations can explore and learn from treasures such as the Grand Canyon, Ellis Island, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, and Yosemite National Park."

National Park Service staff attributed the $600 million or so decline in the backlog to, among other things, data cleanup, completion of several large projects, revisions to several large project work orders, and savings from decreases in construction costs.

While the agency staff wouldn't predict a continued decline in the backlog this year, they did say the Park Service benefitted when Congress increased support in FY2016 by providing an additional $90 million to address deferred maintenance and an additional $28 million for transportation-related deferred maintenance, repairs, and construction. While increases like these enable the NPS to address more of its most critical requirements, the total maintenance needs across the system are still being identified in excess of current funding levels, they added. 

Here's a snapshot of the deferred maintenance for Fiscal 2016:

Across the National Park System

Campgrounds: $13 million in maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Trails: $213.2 million in maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Buildings: $647.1 million in maintenance deemed "critial or serious."

Wastewater systems: $144.2 million in maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Here's a look at some parks and some of their specific needs:

Acadia National Park: $5.8 million in trails maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Antietam National Battlefield: $3 million in buildings maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Arkansas Post National Memorial: $493,468 in wastewater system maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Big Cypress National Preserve: $4.6 million in trail maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Cape Hatteras National Seashore: $10.6 million in buildings maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Cane River Creole National Historical Park: $736,534 in buildings maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Fort Laramie National Historic Site: $737,051 in buildings maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Gateway National Recreation Area: $30.2 million in buildings maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Glacier National Park: $3.6 million in trails maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site: $1.2 million in trails maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Golden Gate National Recreation Area: $70.4 million in buildings maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Grand Canyon National Park: $79.5 million in water system maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Yellowstone National Park: $26.5 million in water systems maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

Yosemite National Park: $41.5 million in wastewater system maintenance deemed "critical or serious."

You can find lists for all parks at this site.

Comments

It's nice to hear a little good news once in awhile.  Even if it is just a LITTLE good news.  Maybe there's a glimmer of hope out there. 


Yet another pitiful attempt to fool voters. This proposed legislation is a joke. What Congress should do is simply not buy 10 of their newest fighter jets/bombers, or take the money being wasted on pork barrel manufacturing of weaponry that the military has repeatedly said they don't want, and we could clear the backlog of maintenance in 18 months. 

Once again, Congressional representatives illustrate their contempt for the American voter, and reveal their belief that we are incredibly stupid.


Because in the real world things are achieved step, by step, by step, a step like $.6 Billion is not to be ignored, when it is a significant increase.  Especially considering how toxic congress has been, apparently Senators like the bipartisan combo of Senators Murkowski (R-AK) and Reed (D-RI) are capable of enduring and achieving.

But the ironic bit on this site where so many commenters had unremittently hostile things to say about Director Jarvis, isn't it interesting to focus for a moment on reality, rather than venom, and see that his series of partnership strategies actually made things happen.

The "backlog" (awful, demoralizing word) is only a very small part of what makes parks succeed.  Protection of resources is primary, and telling their story next, and serving the visitor next.  Politically, hanging in together, and working for common cause is the first thing.


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