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National
park units in Alaska would see significant visitor service and maintenance
improvements under the fiscal year 2008 budget proposed by President
Bush on Monday.
The President's
budget proposes more than $6 million in increases for Alaska parks,
primarily focused on visitor services, resource protection and maintenance.
About one-third the funds, or $2.03 million, are proposed for hiring
seasonal staff. In Alaska parks, a total of 123 seasonals, or about
a 25% increase, would be distributed among parks and the Public
Lands Information Centers in Fairbanks and Anchorage. Nationally,
the budget proposes $40.6 million for hire 3,000 seasonals.
Additionally,
the FY-2008 budget includes about $1.8 million in increases to parks
for the restoration of permanent and other staff which has been
lost over the past several years to budget erosion, as well as providing
operating funds for fuel, utilities, vehicles and other support
costs. More than $1 million is proposed to cover increases in fixed
operating costs such as salaries, building rents and utilities.
Also proposed is a regional increase of about $1 million to a program
within the NPS which funds one-time and recurring maintenance projects
in parks.
"This proposal
treats Alaska very well, and we're pleased that this level of support
is offered in the President's budget," said NPS Alaska Regional
Director Marcia Blaszak. "These proposals recognize the large
mission of resource protection and providing for increasing numbers
of visitors to the parks."
The increases
bring the proposed 2008 budget for national parks in Alaska to more
than $60 million, including operation of the regional office in
Anchorage and other non-park programs. Nationwide, the National
Park Service budget for 2008 is proposed to be a record $2.4 billion,
a $230 million increase in park operations funding over the 2007
budget request.
The proposed
FY-2008 funding increases include:
Sitka National
Historical Park, $168,000 + $55,000 seasonal
Funding would provide seasonal staff to restore interpretive visitor
services at the Russian Bishop's House, restore adequate maintenance
of visitor use areas, increase resource management capabilities,
and increase health and safety protection. Since 2002, budget erosion
and rising fixed costs have resulted in the lapsing of four of 10
seasonal interpretive positions, one of two seasonal maintenance
positions, and one of three permanent maintenance staff. Fewer building
tours, longer emergency response times, and reduced maintenance
have resulted.
Lake Clark National
Park and Preserve, $137,000 + $152,000 seasonal
The new funding will sustain the park's field operations at the
Silver Salmon Creek Ranger Station and aircraft operating support
to backcountry ranger stations, and add seasonal rangers. Rising
fuel and utility costs have significantly affected the park's ability
to maintain remote operations and provide support to volunteers
who frequently staff ranger stations.
Denali National
Park and Preserve, $746,000 + $380,000 seasonal
Funding would restore basic maintenance support for core visitor
services and information facilities within the park entrance area
and along the road, and allow the park to meet legal requirements
for its water system. Since 2002, the park has lost six seasonal
positions and support funding in its maintenance operation; and
its water system has been found by the Public Health Service to
be out of compliance because of inadequate emergency staffing. Proposed
funding would also allow the park to rebuild its safety program,
restore key maintenance positions, and hire staff to fill critical
law enforcement, visitor service and emergency response capacity.
Western Arctic
National Parklands, $297,000 +$42,000 seasonals (4 parks)
Funding is proposed to provide maintenance and visitor services,
and utility and fuel costs for the new Western Arctic National Parklands
visitor and cultural center which will opening Kotzebue in 2008.
The facility will house a visitor center, maintenance facility,
and offices. The 11,110 square foot visitor and cultural center
is a partnership with the NANA Regional Native Corporation. The
funding will also pay a portion of a building lease in Nome, and
add seasonal employees.
Glacier Bay
National Park and Preserve, $110,000 + $326,000 seasonals
Funding is proposed to restore a supervisory park ranger position
for interpretive operations at the 3.3 million-acre park, and add
seasonal interpretation and maintenance staff. In the past decade,
visitation has increased by 42 percent, due in part to increased
vessel traffic in the park. Much of the park's interpretive programming
and visitor contacts are made on-board cruise ships which carry
more than 350,000 people annually. Park interpreters spend 10-12
hour days on-board each ship visiting the park.
Gates of the
Arctic National Park and Preserve, $339,000 +$40,000 seasonal
Funding is proposed to improve the park's radio dispatch capacity
and add a margin of safety, training and support for backcountry
ranger and aircraft patrols. The request would also allow the park
to cover new, higher lease costs for an office building in Fairbanks.
The facility, which opened in 2006, brought together park staff
from Gates of the Arctic and Yukon Charley River National Preserve,
along with regional science and fire programs and various Fairbanks-based
employees from other NPS parks and programs.
Other proposed
increases include seasonal funding at Wrangell-St. Elias ($299,000);
Katmai ($302,000); Kenai Fjords ($131,000); Klondike Gold Rush ($182,000);
Yukon-Charley Rivers ($24,000); and the Anchorage and Fairbanks
Alaska Public Lands Information Centers ($98,000).
-- NPS --
about
Alaska’s national parks visit: http://www.nps.gov/alaska
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Author:Jane
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Last modified on: April 18, 2003
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