🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <38jdev$mab@crl5.crl.com>, ourston@crl.com (Todd Ourston)
writes:

>Relying on some vague language regarding consistency in 
>management found in the Redwood National Park Act, the NPS has concluded 
>that they have been mandated by Congress to administer the same policies 
>in the same manner in every park.

As a general statement is is just not true, either as a statement of NPS
policy or the applicable law.  Congress has shown great flexibility in its
mandate to NPS, even within the general category, for example, of national
recreation areas.

Golden Gate NRA was created, inter alia, "in order to provide for the
maintenance of needed recreational open space necessary to urban
environment and planning . . . ."  The statute emphasizes "recreation and
educational opportunities consistent with sound principles of land use
planning and management." This is to be done, as far as possible, to keep
"its natural setting."  Act of October 27, 1972, Sec. 1, Pub. L. 92-589,
86 Stat. 1299 (16 U.S.C. 460bb).

The Santa Monica Mountains NRA on the other hand is to be administered
with a more preservationist bent, to protect the "airshed for the Southern
California metropolitan area" and "fragile resource areas of the
recreation area shall be administered on a low-intensity basis . . . ."
Act of November 10, 1978, Sec. 507, Pub.L. 95-625, 92 Stat. 3501 (16
U.S.C. 460kk).

Likewise, hunting is permitted in some national recreation areas (e.g.,
Arapaho NRA (16 U.S.C. 460jj-2), yet prohibited in others.

Similar micro-management will be found in the statutes authorizing various
national park, seashore, and lakeshore areas.  Indeed, the problem does
not seem to be over-consistent NPS management, but rather Congress
responding to local political pressure and mandating inconsistent, but
locally popular, management practices.

Joseph T. Edmiston  (jtedmiston@aol.com)
SMMC, Streisand Center for Conservancy Studies, Malibu, CA
(Views are not necessarily those of the State of California, the Streisand
Center, or affiliated entities.)