Norton, Bush faulted on parks

APRIL 5, 2001

The National Parks Conservation Association on Wednesday released its annual list of the 10 most threatened national parks, faulting Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and President George W. Bush for not providing adequate funds or following through on promises to address preservation.

Bush has budgeted for $5 billion over five years for national parks. But these are directed at reducing the backlog of repairs and maintenance at national parks.

Bush has made a similar pledge for Indian school maintenance: $1 billion over 5 years.

The group says the money won't help some of the parks' most pressing needs. They also said Norton has indicated she will rescind the ban on snowmobiles in parks and has renewed leases for summer houses to little benefit of the public.

The group also says the resumption of the slaughter of bison at Yellowstone National Park is troublesome.

Norton addressed a private luncheon of the NPCA two weeks ago in Washington, DC. Concerns about snowmobiles and park funding were raised at the luncheon.

Get the Story:
Yellowstone, Glacier on endangered list (The Billings Gazette 4/5)
Five Alaska parks called endangered (The Anchorage Daily News 4/5)
Four parks taken off group's most-threatened list (AP 4/4)

Relevant Links:
National Parks Conservation Association 10 Most Endangered Parks - http://www.npca.org/media_center/PressReleaseDetail.asp?id=30