Arizona AG announces opposition to National Park Service fee hike
Nov 22, 2017, 7:02 PM
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PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Wednesday he is against a new National Park Service proposal that would raise fees in 17 parks, including the Grand Canyon.
If the proposal passed, visitors would be charged $70 per vehicle, from May until September, up from the current $30 fee. National park officials claimed a fee increase is needed to address a backlog of maintenance issues.
In a press release, Brnovich said a potential fee increase could reduce park revenue because higher fees may turn visitors away.
“Our parks belong to all Americans who should be able to afford and enjoy them with their families for generations to come,”Brnovich said in the release.
“We have a responsibility to fund our national parks and address the maintenance backlog. But we have to preserve our national treasures in a way that doesn’t limit access and potentially destroy local economies.”
The proposed entrance fees would take effect at parks such as Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon parks. The new fees would take effect on May 1.
Earlier this week, the Associated Press reported the National Park Service is giving people more time to weigh in on a proposed fee increase at 17 of its most popular parks.
The deadline for comments on this issue has been extended until Dec. 22. The previous deadline was Nov. 23.