Montana governor won’t reopen state’s parks

Motels and lodges in communities surrounding Glacier National Park were closed for the fall season before the shutdown began.

{mosads}Bullocks comment clashes with the bill Rep. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced late Thursday, which would reimburse states within 90 days for all funds spent on national park operations.

“Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks not only represent an
important part of Montana’s heritage — they are important drivers of our
state’s economy,” Daines said in a statement.

“While I’m pleased
that the Obama administration has finally relented and allowed
individual states to get our National Parks open again, it’s
unacceptable that a state like Montana could be forced to bear even more
of a financial burden because of Washington’s failures.”

Daines also sent Bullock a letter informing the governor of his bill.

“As I know you share my commitment to our state’s outdoor economies supported by our national parks, I want to ensure that the U.S. Department of Interior provides a complete reimbursement to the State of Montana in the event that you choose to fund the reopening of these parks,” Daines wrote in the letter to Bullock.

Daines’s office didn’t comment on the Montana governor’s remarks.

State officials began talks with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell Thursday on opening certain national parks. After the government shutdown, the Interior closed all 401 national parks and furloughed more than 20,000 employees.

Utah will begin reopening its five national parks Friday and expects eight national sites to be fully operational on Saturday.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports California won’t reopen its national parks due to too many “economic wildcards,” according to state officials.