CaseyJones
10-10-2013, 01:07 PM
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/10/10/APNewsBreak--Feds-to-let-states-pay-to-open-parks
The Obama administration said Thursday it will allow states to use their own money to reopen some national parks that have been closed because of the government shutdown.
Governors in at least four states have asked for authority to reopen national parks within their borders because of the economic impacts caused by the park closures.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the government will consider offers to pay for park operations, but will not surrender control of national parks or monuments to the states.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said his state would accept the federal offer to reopen Utah's five national parks.
Utah would have to use its own money to staff the parks, and it will cost $50,000 a day to operate just one of them, Zion National Park, said Herbert's deputy chief of staff, Ally Isom.
It was not clear if the federal government would reimburse Utah later. The Utah Legislature would have to convene in special session to appropriate the money, Isom said.
Governors of South Dakota, Arizona and Colorado have made similar requests to reopen some or all of their parks. It was not clear Thursday if they would accept Jewell's offer.
October is a peak month for tourism in many parts of the West.
The Obama administration said Thursday it will allow states to use their own money to reopen some national parks that have been closed because of the government shutdown.
Governors in at least four states have asked for authority to reopen national parks within their borders because of the economic impacts caused by the park closures.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the government will consider offers to pay for park operations, but will not surrender control of national parks or monuments to the states.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said his state would accept the federal offer to reopen Utah's five national parks.
Utah would have to use its own money to staff the parks, and it will cost $50,000 a day to operate just one of them, Zion National Park, said Herbert's deputy chief of staff, Ally Isom.
It was not clear if the federal government would reimburse Utah later. The Utah Legislature would have to convene in special session to appropriate the money, Isom said.
Governors of South Dakota, Arizona and Colorado have made similar requests to reopen some or all of their parks. It was not clear Thursday if they would accept Jewell's offer.
October is a peak month for tourism in many parts of the West.