The national park system "needs an $8 billion shot in the arm to catch up on basic repairs and to protect natural resources from pollution, underfunding and overcrowding," according to a report released yesterday by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The study traces the impacts of increased visitation and falling government funding at 22 parks. Among the problems highlighted in the case studies are air pollution at Acadia National Park in Maine, acid rain eroding Civil War monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, and water pollution in Everglades National Park in Florida.
The study offers several recommendations to improve the park system, including selling parks bonds to the public, boosting funds for land acquisitions and transit systems in parks, raising visitor and concession fees "where viable," and keeping parks revenues within the parks system.
The report also calls for a presidential executive order focused on boosting scientific support for park managers and creating an integrated reservation systems for all national parks.
Meanwhile, the Washington-based National Parks and Conservation Association on testified on Tuesday before a House panel in favor of a bill sponsored by Rep. John Duncan, R-Tenn., that would allow citizens to donate part of their tax refunds to the national park system.
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