Nearly two decades after Congress passed the the National Park Air Tour Management Act that called for the plans to police the airspace over the National Park System, the Federal Aviation Administration and National Park Service are promising to create some plans, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Who really does manage most national park lodgings? For the big operations in places such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Shenandoah, corporations. Not surprisingly, while many of the 500 management contracts administered by the National Park Service, such as providing firewood or operating a bicycle rental operation, are relatively straightforward, those for large commercial facilities such as lodging in Yosemite or Yellowstone are extremely complicated. David and Kay Scott bring some clarity to this issue in their latest article pertaining to lodging in the National Park System.

An extensive plan to redevelop the Cedar Pass area of Badlands National Park in South Dakota calls for an increase in public lodging, restrooms and shower facilities at the campground, a new visitor center and additional administrative facilities.