Position on H.R. 4931 & H.R. 8454

H.R. 4931 - National Park System Long-Term Lease Investment Act: NPCA opposes this bill as introduced which allows the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), under the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, to extend some leases without opening the lease to bidding by other companies and without a timeframe of extension. NPS leases over 340 structures in parks throughout the National Park System for commercial, residential and non-profit uses that are consistent with the park’s purpose. Lease holders and parameters are determined through a competitive process to ensure businesses provide the best return on investment, great services for the public and strong conservation outcomes for the resources.

H.R. 8454 - To provide for the transfer of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal land in the State of California: NPCA supports this legislation to exchange land parcels between the US Forest Service (USFS) and National Park Service (NPS) within the Ackerson Meadow area shared by Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Following a 2016 private donation, noncontiguous portions of Ackerson Meadow were acquired by Yosemite National Park. Both NPS and USFS have sought for years to exchange a checkerboard of parcels within the jurisdiction of each agency to ensure jurisdictional boundaries within Ackerson Meadow align more seamlessly with desired park and forest boundaries. This exchange would bolster local recreation, conservation and ecosystem rehabilitation opportunities in the meadow.