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American Morning

Concerns About Spoiling America's Oldest National Park

Aired May 27, 2002 - 09:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Memorial Day is the start of summer. Among the summer vacation spots: national parks like Yellowstone.

CNN's Eric Philips is there this morning, where there are concerns, though, about spoiling America's oldest national park -- Eric.

ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra.

Of course, 285 million visitors flocked to the national parks each and every year, and Yellowstone is no example -- it's no exception, rather. As you said, we're here, where we've seen the crowds growing over this Memorial Day weekend. The problem is, here and other parks, too many people and not enough money.

Parks are saying that the Bush administration and Congress need to do all they can to increase the operational budget for the parks. Right now, President Bush is calling for increase of $107 million dollars in the year 2003 budget for the parks. But park supporters are saying that needs to be a $280 million increase.

Here at Yellowstone, in particular, though, there's a very peculiar and controversial issue brewing involving snowmobiles. The problem is in the wintertime, you find hundreds of people zipping through the park in snowmobiles, and parks supporters are saying it's polluting the air and causing too much noise. Right, now, the National Park Service is accepting public comments on that issue, and they plan to make a final decision in the upcoming months.

But one thing the park service wants the people know, especially during this holiday weekend, is that the parks are safe. They are on a heightened level of alert here with all of the rangers being very watchful for any type of problems or incidents, but the parks are safe, and they want visitor to come out, to enjoy the parks, but to obey the laws and rules -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Understandably. Eric Philips from Yellowstone, thank you so much.

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