White House will open parks if states pay

The Interior Department will reopen national parks if states fund the National Park Service personnel who have been furloughed in the government shutdown.

The decision, announced Thursday, follows political attacks from Republicans who allege the Obama administration has gone overboard in closing off access to popular tourist spots.

“Responding to the economic impacts that the park closures are having on many communities and local businesses, [Interior] Secretary Jewell will consider agreements with Governors who indicate an interest and ability to fully fund National Park Service personnel to re-open national parks in their states,” Interior spokesman Blake Androff said in a statement.

{mosads}The shutdown prompted Interior to close national parks nationwide and furlough more than 20,000 Park Service employees who ensure visitor safety and protect the natural resources, he said.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) this week asked President Obama to authorize the opening of national parks and other attractions in his state using state and private funds, saying in a letter that the closure is “devastating individuals and businesses that rely on these areas for their livelihood.”

Herbert — whose state is home to Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and several others — said via Twitter that he spoke with Jewell Thursday and that they have had a “breakthrough” and that they’re “working out details now.”

Governors from South Dakota, Arizona and Colorado have also asked permission to reopen their states’ national parks, according to The Associated Press.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), whose state is home to the Grand Canyon National Park, last week urged Obama to allow state and private funding to be used to open national parks.

Brewer, citing a federal study, said that visitors to the park generated more than $467 million and supported 7,400 jobs  in 2011. 

“The Interior Department will begin conversations about how to proceed as expeditiously as current limited resources allow. We continue to call on Congress to act swiftly to enact appropriations for the entire government so that we can re-open all 401 national parks for the American people,” said Androff, the Interior spokesman.

Republicans in Congress have taken aim at Interior’s handling of the shutdown, alleging the National Park Service has tried to make the shutdown as tough as possible on the public for political reasons.

The head of the agency has refuted the allegation.

Two House committees will hold a joint hearing next week to criticize closures of national parks and Washington, D.C.’s monuments and memorials.

Interior’s Thursday announcement is unlikely to end the criticism.

“Why now, after more than a week of refusing to allow States to pay to keep National Parks open, is the Obama Administration suddenly reversing course? It appears they are truly just making this up as they go along, as they have put out one inconsistent policy after another,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) in a statement Thursday.

“States and communities whose economic livelihoods are tied to these national parks deserve better than this Administration’s political games to make this shutdown as painful as possible,” said Hastings, whose committee is co-hosting next week’s hearing.

And Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) has alleged the Interior Department is needlessly closing off scenic highway overlooks and other areas that don’t require staffing.

This report was updated at 3:41 p.m.