Furthermore, they noted that its proposal did not address the impact on minority communities. The NPS also failed to provide any data regarding comparable fees charged by other public agencies and nearby private operators. It did not also consider the public policy or management objectives served by the recreation fee.
The AGs pointed out that the NPS “failed to adhere to the criteria set forth by Congress.” Instead of increasing fees, they recommended seeking adequate funding from Congress. They also encouraged the NPS to support bipartisan legislative proposals such as the National Parks Service Legacy Act.
Details of the NPS proposal
Last month, the NPS proposed a significant in entrance fees at 17 highly-visited national parks during the peak season. Its proposal covers the following:
- Acadia National Park (ACAD)
- Arches National Park (ARCH)
- Bryce Canyon National Park (BRCA)
- Canyonlands National Park (CANY)
- Denali National Park (DENA)
- Glacier National Park (GLAC)
- Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA)
- Grand Teton National Park (GRTE)
- Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR)
- Mount Rainier National Park (MORA)
- Rocky Mountain National Park (ROMO)
- Olympic National Park (OLYM)
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park (SEKI)
- Shenandoah National Park (SHEN)
- Yellowstone National Park (YELL)
- Yosemite National Park (YOSE)
- Zion National Park (ZION)
Under the proposal, the entrance fees in these national parks will be doubled or tripled.