Park Service opposes reform measure

A bill by Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., to revamp the concession system in national parks is provoking opposition from National Park Service officials, who say the measure could lead to greater development in parks.

To increase competition, the bill would eliminate the practice of giving current concessionaires a preferential right for the renewal of their contracts (AP/Billings Gazette, 5/1). "An outspoken advocate of privatization, Thomas [has] made it clear that he will insist that some form of outside management be included in the bill."

National Park Service Deputy Director Dennis Galvin said installing an outside concession manager would be contrary to the agency's primary mission of preserving resources. Because the manager's budget would come from concession revenues, the manager would have an incentive to maximize revenues, possibly through increased development. The agency is supporting a competing bill by Sen. Dale Bumpers (D-AR) (Chris Tollefson, Casper [WY] Star-Tribune, 5/1).

Thomas said he believes he can reach a compromise with congressional Democrats on his parks-reform measure, which would also require more strategic management of parks and change the way the NPS adds parks (Jennifer McKee, Billings Gazette, 5/1). But he "hinted that he may have to go around a hostile Park Service and negotiate directly with Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt" to move his bill forward (Tollefson, Casper [WY] Star-Tribune).