{"id":11563,"date":"2018-04-01T02:22:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-01T08:22:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yellowstonegate.com\/?p=11563"},"modified":"2018-04-17T13:06:52","modified_gmt":"2018-04-17T19:06:52","slug":"yellowstones-backcountry-prime-faces-uncertainty-amid-opposition-to-amazon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yellowstonegate.com\/?p=11563","title":{"rendered":"Yellowstone’s ‘Backcountry Prime’ faces uncertainty amid opposition to Amazon"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A still image from a video posted to YouTube shows Old Faithful erupting as seen from a camera drone in 2013, before Yellowstone National Park and the National Park Service banned unmanned aerial vehicles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/span>CODY, WYO. \u2014 A controversial preliminary proposal to team a major corporate sponsor with Yellowstone National Park in an effort to revive interest in backcountry camping may be over before it has even started, after objections from an unexpectedly high-level opponent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Documents reviewed in late March by a number of news agencies detail a draft framework being considered that would govern an agreement between Yellowstone and online retail giant Amazon.com. The partnership would leverage the popularity of the Amazon Prime two-day delivery service to help novice hikers and campers better navigate the backcountry.<\/span><\/p>\n

But growing objections from President Donald Trump over Amazon’s business practices have cast doubt on whether the proposal will move forward. The apparent confusion over the plan is seen as a setback for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who has backed the effort as an example of how U.S. corporations can partner with federal land agencies to raise funds and awareness for national parks, forests and other public lands.<\/span><\/p>\n

A series of emails and other documents outlining the so-called “Backcountry Prime” plan were first leaked to news media by the Friends of Yellowstone Alliance. They describe how Amazon would work with the National Park Service to create a special online shopping and recommendation list for park visitors, particularly those planning hikes or overnight camping trips into Yellowstone’s backcountry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Visitors could buy everything from bug repellant to winter parkas with the click of a mouse, and have it delivered within two days, all without signing up for Amazon’s Prime delivery service, according to details of the plan. Deliveries could even be made to spots inside park boundaries, from an in-park warehouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the proposal has met resistance both from environmental groups and from the White House as word of a planned drone delivery service have emerged, and as Trump’s ire with Amazon has grown, resulting in an angry Twitter outburst Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon,” Trump tweeted. “This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now!” He also criticized “The Fake Washington Post,” owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, saying the newspaper should register as a lobbyist. The Post has printed facts embarrassing to Trump.<\/span><\/p>\n

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While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars. The Failing N.Y. Times reports that \u201cthe size of the company\u2019s lobbying staff has ballooned,\u201d and that…<\/p>\n

\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n