Pearce: Proposed National Park Management Policies Provide Progress, but the Hard Work Remains
Pearce: Proposed National Park Management Policies Provide Progress, but the Hard Work Remains
House National Parks Subcommittee Chairman Steve Pearce (NM, 2nd District) today complemented the National Park Service's timely finalization of its proposed 2006 Management Policies, while pointedly remarking that the National Park Service (NPS) has hard work ahead of it as it strives to overcome bureaucratic barriers to the efficient and effective achievement of its mission.
Chairman Pearce joined U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and National Park Service Director Fran Mainella at an 11:30 a.m. press conference this morning during which Secretary Kempthorne and Director Mainella presented the final draft. The NPS has proposed the 2006 Draft Management Policies as an update to its 2001 Management Policies, which remain in effect until the NPS formally adopts the 2006 Management Policies after an additional period for comments from the NPS employees, the public, and Congress.
"The Parks Service has produced a credible document that reforms, streamlines, and clarifies many of its practices and guidelines while permitting an enhanced local role in policy making" Chairman Pearce said. "I commend the Parks Service for overcoming numerous obstacles and moving this essential process forward.
"Notwithstanding this progress, the hard work lies ahead. House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo and I remain committed to achieving a more effective balance between enhancing visitor enjoyment and conservation. Every American - including persons with disabilities - deserves the opportunity to enjoy our national parks today. And our children and grandchildren have the right to know that they will be able to share the magnificent beauty of our parks with their children and grandchildren tomorrow.
"My subcommittee colleagues and I will continue to exercise our constitutional duty of oversight to make sure each of these objectives continues to receive the utmost attention."
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