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-------- Original Message --------
From: cherie@cecs.pdx.edu
Subject: [EMMAS] National Parks Seeking Corporate Sponsorship


http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2495
National Parks Seeking Corporate Sponsorship
by Brendan Coyne

Oct 18 - Suffering under a budget crunch, America's national parks are
turning to corporate sponsors to cover millions of dollars in expenses.
The move to allow companies to brand portions of the nation's most
pristine wilds is a marked change from the National Park Service's
current passive acceptance of corporate largess.

According to documents released by Public Employees for Environmental
Responsibility (PEER) yesterday, the Park Service (NPS) is readying to
accept outside solicitations to keep parks open and fully functioning.
Specifically, the proposed rules allow sponsors to donate funds in
exchange for displaying promotional materials both in parks and on NPS
websites.

On October 6, NPS Director Fran Mainella announced that his agency was
accepting comments on proposed changes to service rules for accepting
donations from individuals and groups. Among the proposed acceptable
forms of donations are commemorative plaques, markers and naming
portions of specific park facilities.

The Park Service will also now allow employees to seek funds from
companies currently doing business with the NPS, a direct about-face by
the federal agency, PEER said. According to the new rules, employees
can seek donations from corporations currently holding vending
contracts with the Service. All sponsor companies would be allowed to
display their logos prominently, the proposed NPS rules state.

According to PEER, such "branding" is a "thinly disguised scheme to
subject the public commons to corporate branding campaigns." The group
charges that the Bush administration is seeking to undermine the parks
system in order to privatize it.

At a hearing earlier this month, the National Parks Conservation
Association (NPCA) warned that the Park Service was operating with a
structural deficit of more than $600 million. Overall, national parks
are operating on two-thirds of their recommended funding, NPCA said.

Park officials expect to raise usage fees next year to offset a portion
of the shortfall, in addition to seeking corporate backing. NPCA is
asking Congress to appropriate funds to close the gap.

Other intrusive corporate fundraisers under consideration include
cell-phone towers, low-altitude flights, and snowmobile and
all-terrain-vehicle access, the Salt Lake Tribune reported last week.
In addition, park managers would have limited authority to prevent
development, the paper said.
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