GAO Report Underscores McCollum's Concerns About Mismanagement of National Parks Permits

GAO Report Underscores McCollum's Concerns About Mismanagement of National Parks Permits
Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Washington, D.C. - The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report detailing the inconsistent application of permit fees collected by the National Park Service (NPS). The report was requested by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) and other House Democrats who raised questions about NPS management of the permits after the National Football League was allowed to use the National Mall for a major advertising event in 2003.

"This report confirms that the National Park Service has been inconsistent in collecting and supervising permit fees on public lands, resulting in significant lost of revenue to our parks," said McCollum. "The Park Service must now move in the right direction and apply its guidelines consistently and fairly. As taxpayers, we deserve accountability for our tax dollars and we deserve to have our national treasures protected for future generations."

According to the recently released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the Park Service has not implemented a requirement to collect location fees for commercial filming and still photography. Lack of action at the National Park Service is resulting in significant annual forgone revenues that could be used to administer our national parks.

For a copy of the GAO report on NPS permits and fees, please visit: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d05410high.pdf

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