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Committee on Resources 



Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Lands 



Statement of 



Representative David E. Skaggs 



on 



On H.R. 773 and H.R. ,'.028 



Concessions Reform Legislation 



July 25, 1995 



Mr. Chairman, as a cosponsor of H.R. 773, I appreciate your 

 courtesy in including this statement in the hearing record. 

 I am glad that the Subcommittee is holding this hearing on the 

 important subject of reforming the laws and policies under which 

 the National Park Service and other Federal land-managing 

 agencies award and manage commercial contracts and licenses for 

 the provision of visitor services. 



I was very disappointed that comprehensive reform of National 

 Park System concessions was not achieved last year, especially 

 since the House passed a sound, balanced concessions reform bill 

 by an overwhelming vote only to see the measure die in the 

 Senate's end-of-session gridlock. 



I continue to support comprehensive concession reform that will 

 provide for greater competition among potential concessioners 

 where such competition is appropriate, and that will repeal the 

 outdated provisions of current law related to concessioners' 

 preferential rights of renewal and their ability to have an 

 excessive possessory interest in improvements on Federal lands. 



In addition, developments since your committee and the House last 

 considered reform of concession legislation have demonstrated 

 that it would be desirable for legislation dealing with visitor 

 services to recognize the authority of the Secretary of the 

 Interior to properly regulate commercial tourist flights over 

 units of the National Park System. 



As you know, Mr. Chairman, I have recently introduced a bill 

 (H.R. 1954) that addresses this subject, which is becoming a. 

 growing problem at several National Parks. In particular, 

 introduction of the bill was prompted by my concerns about 

 current proposals for helicopter sightseeing at Rocky Mountain • 

 National Park, in Colorado, which could seriously compromise 

 enjoyment of the park by visitors on the ground and also could 

 have serious adverse impacts on the resources and values of the 

 park itself. 



I believe that the National Park Service has authority to manage 

 commercial air tourism, just as it has with respect to other 

 commercial activities within the parks. But I understand some 

 question that point, so I think Congress should act to remove any 

 doubts about that authority and to make sure that the American 

 people — who own the National Parks — receive an appropriate 



