"Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's decision to keep the national parks open without adequate staffing during the government shutdown shows the failure of his responsibility to conserve them unimpaired, for future generations. The National Park Service Organic Act statutory language states: "The Secretary shall administer the park(s)...to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.""
"Congress failed to pass an appropriation, and Republican House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich forced a federal government shutdown over disputes involving health care, the debt ceiling and the total budget proposal. Within the Department of Interior, Secretary Bruce Babbitt, Assistant Secretary George Frampton, Park Service Director Roger Kennedy and Destry Jarvis unanimously agreed that, during the shutdown, the national parks would have to be closed, with a few rare exceptions."
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum kept national parks open without adequate staffing during the government shutdown, failing to conserve them unimpaired for future generations. The National Park Service Organic Act requires the Secretary to conserve park scenery, natural and historic objects, and wildlife and to provide enjoyment in a manner that leaves them unimpaired for future generations. In 1995, Interior leadership closed parks during a shutdown because conservation and protection by staff outweighed public enjoyment. Park leaders determined that the mandate to conserve unimpaired surpasses the purpose of enjoyment when staff cannot protect wildlife, visitors and resources. In 2013, a director concluded that leaving parks open without rangers would violate the law and endanger resources and visitors.
Read at High Country News
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