Environmental Speech: A Bush in the Forest

Re “Nice Boots . . . So-So Plan,” editorial, June 1: These boots may be made for walking, but not for climbing Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park. As for the president’s national parks initiative, while the Wilderness Society appreciates the attention of the White House on America’s parks, the unfortunate truth is that the administration’s park effort is largely a smoke-and-mirrors program involving phantom money.

For example, the $2.7 billion President Bush is “committing” to transportation-related maintenance in the parks doesn’t even exist. Rather, in 2004, he will ask Congress to include this money in its reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act. Obviously, there is no guarantee the funding will ever materialize. Of the remaining $2.2 billion the president proposes for non-transportation infrastructure, about 40% will come from preexisting accounts and fee revenues--money already committed to other uses--such as purchasing clean-fuel shuttle vehicles at Yosemite.

While there will be some new money for the maintenance backlog, about $65 million per year, it is nowhere near a supposed $4.9 billion. America’s national parks deserve better.

Jay Thomas Watson

Regional Director, Wilderness

Society, San Francisco

*

Re “Amid Giants, Bush Airs His Park Plan,” May 31: Bush’s visit to Sequoia National Park presented a perfect opportunity for him to announce a vow to preserve and protect our national parks, which is sorely needed and a long time coming. For a president to have pride in our park system should go without saying. The mere fact that Bush (and advisors) feel the need to make such a public pronouncement reinforces the very non-environmental image of his administration. Bush needs to realize that the natural beauty of this country does not stop at the borders of our parks. Having carefully placed a handful of rare coins in our safe-deposit box, are we eager to squander our fortune?

Cullen Davis

Sherman Oaks