[at-l] FW: Memo Advises National Parks Officials on How to Mislead Public on Service Cuts

[wdlists at optonline.net (Walter Daniels)]

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From: BushGreenwatch [mailto:info@bushgreenwatch.org] 
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 9:04 AM
To: Walt Daiels
Subject: Memo Advises National Parks Officials on How to Mislead Public on
Service Cuts



	


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March 18, 2004 | HYPERLINK "http://ga3.org/ct/F1zpOTS1FjEO/"Back Issues 

Memo Advises National Parks Officials on How to Mislead Public on Service
Cuts 


Previously undisclosed plans for cuts in the National Park Service (NPS)
were revealed at a press conference yesterday -- along with Park Service
documents encouraging NPS employees to mislead the media and public about
the reductions. 



The nonpartisan Coalition of Concerned National Park Service Retirees
presented a memo from the NPS Northeast Region suggesting various options
for service cuts, and language to help mislead the media. 



The undisclosed planning for NPS cuts took place late last month even as the
Interior Department was announcing a partnership with travel agents to
increase the number of visitors to America's national parks.[1, 2] 



"We have a very clear memo stating that the stewards of our land are
supposed to misinform the public about what is going on," said Laurel
Angell, counsel for Campaign to Protect American Lands. "I find this to be a
really sad day." 



Speakers at the press conference speculated that NPS employees were being
advised to avoid mentioning cuts to the media -- and to provide misleading
answers when questioned -- due to the "Chambers Effect." NPS employees
wanted to avoid the fate of U.S. Park Police Chief Theresa Chambers, who was
removed by the Bush administration after she publicly disclosed cuts in
services. 



"Chambers was forced out by the Bush Administration after revealing similar
budget cuts," said Denny Huffman, spokesperson for the Coalition of
Concerned National Park Service Retirees and former superintendent of
Dinosaur National Monument. 



Huffman said the Chambers firing has created a "culture of fear" in the NPS,
and park superintendents were told to "make the cuts, keep them quiet and if
necessary mislead the media." 



Service reductions apply to weekend and holiday activities this summer at
various U.S. national parks. Some of the cuts suggested for consideration by
Northeast Region park superintendents, for example, include: 



*	Close the visitor center on all federal holidays. 

*	Eliminate life guard service at one of the park's three guarded
beaches. 

*	Eliminate all guided ranger tours. 

*	Let manicured grasslands grow all summer. 

*	Turn one of our four campgrounds over to a concession permittee. 

*	Close the park every Sunday and Monday. 

*	Close the visitor center for the months of November, January &
February.[2] 


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Email HYPERLINK "http://ga3.org/ct/FpzpOTS1FjE7/"; \nBush in support of Chief
Chambers, and let him know you don't agree with policies to mislead the
media and public about reductions. 




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SOURCES: 
[1] HYPERLINK "http://ga3.org/ct/FdzpOTS1FjEW/"; \nNPS Midwest Region memo,
Mar. 1, 2004. 
[2] HYPERLINK "http://ga3.org/ct/F7zpOTS1FjEI/"; \nNPS Northeast Region memo,
Feb. 20, 2004. 




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