The Akron Beacon Journal editorial board called for congressional passage of Senator Portman’s Restore Our Parks Act, bipartisan legislation that would help address the nearly $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service (NPS). The bill, which has been praised by key stakeholders, would establish the “National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund” to reduce the maintenance backlog by allocating existing unobligated revenues the government receives from on and offshore energy development.  Notably, the measure would help tackle the more than $100 million maintenance backlog at Ohio’s eight national park sites.  Specifically, Cuyahoga Valley National Park has more than $45 million in unmet maintenance needs such as building renovations, road, and infrastructure improvements.

Says the editorial: “How will the agency get ahead, thus all of us in position to preserve and protect for the next generation the natural treasures, historic sites and other assets of the park service? U.S. Sen. Rob Portman has taken the lead, along with colleagues Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, and Angus King, a Maine independent…. The legislation calls for devoting up to $1.3 billion annually for five years. That adds up to $6.5 billion — and an effective framework for moving steadily ahead, the fund at a remove from the vagaries of congressional appropriations.”

Excerpts of the editorial can be found below and the full editorial can be found at this link.   

Protection Money for the Park Service

Akron Beacon Journal

Editorial

July 23, 2018

The National Park Service experienced a $275 million increase in its deferred maintenance costs last year. That’s a big sum when the overall annual budget of the park service is roughly $3.3 billion. It is hard to keep pace. More, the postponed work becomes more costly with each passing year.

This long has been the financial challenge for the park service, the backlog of deferred maintenance totaling $12 billion today.

How will the agency get ahead, thus all of us in position to preserve and protect for the next generation the natural treasures, historic sites and other assets of the park service? U.S. Sen. Rob Portman has taken the lead, along with colleagues Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, and Angus King, a Maine independent.

The Ohio Republican is sponsoring the Restore Our Parks Act, legislation to create a fund dedicated to reducing the maintenance backlog. The revenue would flow from energy development on public lands, onshore and offshore, from oil and gas leasing to solar installations.

The legislation calls for devoting up to $1.3 billion annually for five years. That adds up to $6.5 billion — and an effective framework for moving steadily ahead, the fund at a remove from the vagaries of congressional appropriations.

On Saturday, Portman visited the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to get a look at the backlog here. Park officials outlined the $45 million in deferred maintenance. The projects include the demolition of structures and restoration of properties, upgrades to the railroad track and the Towpath Trail.

…

Zinke and the Trump White House are on board with the Portman legislation. The hope is that the bipartisan backing points to swift passage and enactment, a Congress with few achievements delivering something needed.

For its part, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park will be helped by the combined sewer overhaul and the eventual removal of the Gorge Dam, adding further to the quality of our lives. Count the easing of the park’s maintenance backlog as another substantial advance.

Let’s see the Restore Our Parks Act on the president’s desk soon.

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