sequestration

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Former Grand Teton superintendent sees need for more civic engagement

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, left, and Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott speak with reporters Wednesday about efforts to complete a deal for the federal government to acquire Wyoming state lands within the park, were the press conference was held. (Ruffin Prevost/Yellowstone Gate)

Mary Gibson Scott retired in November after nearly a decade as the chief administrator for Grand Teton National Park. In a wide-ranging interview last year given shortly after she retired, Scott singled out the chaos brought on by federal budget battles as a major challenge during her tenure, calling federal budget dysfunction an ongoing threat to the health of national parks across the country. Continue Reading →

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Wyoming won’t pay to operate Yellowstone and Grand Teton during shutdown

Wyoming will not pay to operate Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks under a plan announced Thursday that could allow some states to cover the costs of reopening national parks closed under the government shutdown. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the federal government would consider offers from states to cover operational costs to reopen some parks, according to the Associated Press. Continue Reading →

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Wyoming governor reviewing options for plowing Yellowstone Park roads

yellowstone-plows-meet

Citing concerns about legal liability and creating an ongoing obligation to make up for lost federal dollars, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said Thursday that state and local officials are still reviewing options on whether and how to help plow roads into Yellowstone National Park. The National Park Service announced earlier this week that snow plowing would be delayed in an effort to save money to meet across-the-board federal budget cuts required by Congress under a so-called sequestration plan that took effect March 1. The move will push back Yellowstone's spring opening dates by 1-2 weeks at the various park entrances. Continue Reading →

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Park gateway communities sound alarm over effects of automatic budget cuts

The Roosevelt Arch greets visitors at the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. (Flickr photo by Pete Zarria - click to enlarge)

Gateway communities around Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are sounding the alarm over what could be cuts in visitor services and shortened seasons if Congress fails to resolve a dispute over planned automatic spending cuts. With just over a week until the March 1 deadline for scheduled across-the-board budget cuts known as a federal sequester, tourism industry leaders in Wyoming and Montana are letting elected officials know how National Park Service budget constraints could affect their communities. Continue Reading →

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