By Associated Press
and Peninsula Daily News
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Interior Department is increasing fees at the most popular national parks by $5 per vehicle, backing down from an earlier plan that would have forced visitors to pay $70 per vehicle to visit parks such as Olympic National Park.
A plan announced Thursday would boost fees at 17 popular parks by $5, up from the current $25 to $30 which is charged at parks, but far below the figure Interior proposed last fall.
Effective June 1, Olympic National Park entrance fee will be $30 per vehicle or $25 per motorcycle. An annual park pass will cost $55.
The plan by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to nearly triple entrance fees drew widespread opposition from lawmakers and governors of both parties, who said the higher fees could exclude many Americans from enjoying national parks.
The agency received more than 109,000 comments on the plan, most of them opposed.
The plan announced Thursday sets a $5 increase for all parks that charge entrance fees. Parks that previously charged $15 will now charge $20, a $20 fee will rise to $25, a $25 fee will now be $30 and a $30 fee will rise to $35.
Olympic National Park now charges $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorcycle and $10 per person for hikers or bicycle riders. An annual pass is $50. Each category of fees will increase by $5 on June 1.
“The additional revenue from entrance fees at Olympic National Park will fund projects such as the replacement of the Log Cabin and Barnes Point wastewater treatment plants at Lake Crescent, Kalaloch water system improvements, rehabilitation of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center and installation of new interpretive exhibits, road improvements to reduce congestion at Heart o’ the Hills entrance station on Hurricane Ridge Road, and improvements to comfort stations and campsites in campgrounds across the park,” said Penny Wagner, park spokeswoman, in a news release.
Olympic National Park has had an entrance fee since 1987. The current rate of $25 per vehicle has been in effect since 2015. The park is one of 117 in the National Park System that charges an entrance fee.
The remaining 300 sites are free to enter.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said the fee hikes were needed to help maintain the parks and begin to address an $11.6 billion maintenance backlog.
“Every dollar spent to rebuild our parks will help bolster the gateway communities that rely on park visitation for economic vitality,” Zinke said.
Eighty percent of entrance fees stay in Olympic National Park, said officials. The other 20 percent of entry fee income is shared with other national parks for their projects.
“Entrance fees are a critical source of revenue for the park in fulfilling our commitment to providing a quality experience for all visitors,” said park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.
“The rehabilitation of our main park visitor center was funded largely through entrance fees. We look forward to addressing deferred maintenance projects including aging wastewater treatment systems with the additional revenue.”
A $35 fee will be applied at such popular parks as Yellowstone, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Mount Rainier, Rocky Mountain and Grand Teton parks.
Zinke thanked those who made their voices heard through the public comment process: “Your input has helped us develop a balanced plan that focuses on modest increases,” he said.
The maintenance backlog “isn’t going to be solved overnight and will require a multi-tiered approach as we work to provide badly needed revenue to repair infrastructure,” Zinke added.
Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Park Conservation Association, hailed the revised plan.
“The public spoke, and the administration listened,” Pierno said. The plan to nearly triple fees at popular parks was opposed by a range of businesses, gateway communities, governors, tourism groups, conservation organizations and the public, who all “said this was the wrong solution for parks’ repair needs,” she said.
The revised fee plan is “a big win for park lovers everywhere,” said Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee.
“This is a prime example that activism works,” Grijalva added. “The American people raised their concerns, participated in the public comment period and made sure that the Trump White House knew the proposal was unpopular. If it wasn’t for the power of the people, Secretary Zinke would have gone ahead with his ridiculous proposal.”
Grijalva encouraged the public to speak out against a Trump administration plan to shrink some national monuments and open most U.S. coasts to oil drilling.
