Traveler's View: Weakening NEPA Is A Huge Mistake, Will ESA Be Next?
First it was the National Environmental Policy Act. Is the Endangered Species Act next?
- By Kurt Repanshek - July 16th, 2020 2:00am
Traveler's View
Traveler's View: BLM Should Focus On Its Mission, Not Placating Oil Industry
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which works "to make energy development on public lands easier," should not ignore business sense, or its overall mission, at the same time.
- By Kurt Repanshek - June 22nd, 2020 11:18am
Traveler's View: The Coronavirus Fallout
During the past few months of watching the coronavirus pandemic roil the National Park System and those who love to visit it, a couple things have bubbled to the surface that the National Park Service should act on: Extend annual passes that are to run out in 2020 for two or three months, and make park reservations a norm where obviously necessary.
- By Kurt Repanshek - June 8th, 2020 1:45am
Traveler's View: Interior Department Is Wasting Time On Caneel Bay Resort
After seven years of intransigence by the private equity firm that controls the Caneel Bay Resort at Virgin Islands National Park, top Interior Department officials continue to hold out hope they can convince the firm to become an official park concessionaire in late 2023. They could likely speed that agreement on by beginning the process to find a concessionaire for the resort that currently is that in name only.
- By Kurt Repanshek - May 19th, 2020 2:00am
Traveler's View: America's Best Idea Needs Help
While we're spending National Park Week tyring to enjoy the parks virtually, we also need to spend time pondering the condition of the National Park System and asking what needs to be done to show we really believe the parks are America's Best Idea. Just saying those three words doesn't make it so.
- By Kurt Repanshek - April 19th, 2020 1:45am
Traveler's View: Why Is Grand Canyon National Park Open?
There are two sides, at least, as to why Grand Canyon National Park remains open during the coronavirus pandemic, and history would point to the answer being Arizona's governor wants it open.
- By Kurt Repanshek - March 30th, 2020 6:17pm
Traveler's View: While You Were Sleeping...
Knowledge, as they say, is power. And if you enjoy visiting national parks around the country, you need to stay aware of efforts to weaken environmental laws that protect the parks and other public lands you enjoy for recreational pursuits.
- By Kurt Repanshek - January 21st, 2020 2:00am
Traveler's View: Invasive Species Are National Park System's Worst Nightmare
Invasive species, not the maintenance backlog, not the annual budget, and not political differences, pose the greatest threat to America's Best Idea.
- By Kurt Repanshek - December 17th, 2019 2:00am
UPDATE | Traveler's View: National Parks Are The Frogs In The Pot
There's a slow movement on to further commercialize the National Park System, one so slow that, like the frog in the pot atop the stove, it might soon be too late to stave off the incursions.
- By Kurt Repanshek - November 12th, 2019 11:34am
UPDATE | Traveler's View: Utah Politicians Have Inordinate Sway Over Federal Lands
Work for the National Park Service in Utah and you best be prepared to serve the best interests of Utah politicians. Why else, after Park Service staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area spent nine years working on the requisite environmental studies and public comment periods to allow ATV use in the NRA, would the agency's regional director issue a directive that all parks in the state open their dirt and paved roads to ATVs without similar studies?
- By Kurt Repanshek - September 30th, 2019 11:51am
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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
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