No funds for deferred maintenance

A look at President Obama’s budget proposal makes you wonder when he last visited one of America’s 397 national parks.

While the fiscal year 2013 budget proposal coming from the White House is bare-bones, it does go a long way toward maintaining critical programs. What it doesn’t do, and should, is begin to pay for more than $4 billion in back-burnered maintenance projects that have gone unfunded for decades among the properties administered by the National Park Service.

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The total National Park Service budget of $2.6 billion in the president’s budget request fully funds $27 million in fixed costs and $39.2 million more for some programs, including the president’s own America’s Great Outdoors initiative, and for operations.

But the budget also reduces by $67.2 million some other programs, operating budgets and heritage partnership programs. Most onerous is a freeze on national park construction projects, some of which have been pending for years and are badly needed.

Anybody who has visited Canyonlands, Yellowstone or Grand Teton national parks in recent years has surely noticed the decay and lack of upkeep on many older buildings, as well as exhibits, trails, signs, and archaeological sites. Less noticeable but even more of a potential problem is deferred maintenance to improve water and wastewater systems, repair roads and update other critical infrastructure.

Only construction projects that directly affect the health and safety of NPS employees and visitors will be covered.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is apologetic.

"The fact is, it will impact maintenance because we already have a huge backlog," Salazar said. "What we’re doing here is we’re deferring projects. We’ll only be able to maintain the highest needs that we have and keep the backlog from growing any further."

As the NPS website states, "The National Park Service is the steward of the nation’s most cherished natural and cultural resources. As the keeper of 397 park units, 23 national scenic and national historic trails, and 58 wild and scenic rivers, NPS is charged with preserving these lands and historic features that were designated by the nation for their cultural and historic significance, scenic and environmental worth, and educational and recreational opportunities."

As the nation recovers from the Great Recession, the president and Congress should recognize that it takes more than statements of commitment to maintain these most cherished resources. It takes cash.