Two Nevada parks reviewing costs

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON -- Managers at Great Basin National Park are weighing possible cuts to the work force and services under a National Park Service directive to contain costs, officials said.

The Nevada park is examining fixed costs, which include salaries, electricity and gasoline, and projected increases during the next three to five years.

"Fixed costs are increasing, so we've all been asked initially through the budget cost projection to make sure that our current operation is sustainable," said Cindy Nielsen, superintendent at Great Basin National Park.

A similar review is underway at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the Park Service said.

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http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-21-Fri-2006/news/6971328.html

[kestrel91316]

1. Oh for pete's sake - they already barely fund GBNP..............

This is the newer NP in the middle of nowhere in Eastern NV, and one of the most beautiful places on earth (IMHO). It is the poor stepchild because of its remoteness.

My dad was raised in the Snake Valley adjacent to where the park is now, and my g-grandfather was the first man to run cattle on Wheeler peak for summer pasture, a tradition that continues to this day (GBNP is the only NP where cattle are allowed to graze - they are "grandfathered" in). Since they made this area a NP more people go there and have the chance to see something unforgettable. There are very few jobs, however, and the local economy would go belly up without the park funds (it was a nat'l monument for decades before).

Oh well. I suppose I should be grateful there is no oil underneath Wheeler for Bush to sell drilling rights to..........

[NVMojo]

2. Well, there are lots of interesting like sick corporate things going on

in this region and I wonder what the connection is? Just heard recently that one of the power plants proposed for White Pine County is going to be natural gas fired. Interesting as this part of the state has no natural gas. So how are they going to get it there? From a new pipeline out of Utah. Gotta think of the area. More later. Brain is tired. But anyways, the monopoly power company in this state will probably be building power transmission lines down to LV and will need right of ways just like the water pipeline in coming from Vegas to suck northeastern Nevada's water tables dry. A right of way is also needed to transport nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain from this part of the country. Wanna bet it's all tied together?

And Reid and Ensign's office are working on a White Pine County Land Act right now. Hmmmmmmmmm.