BIG Government

[R_Corter]

Thought some of you would like to read this. It something to be concerned about since it is local and could effect the cost of a canoe trip to Buffalo River.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC LANDS
Here is the link to all the testimonies before the subcommittee
http://naturalresources.house.gov/calen ... tID=304576" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Here is a link to Mike Mills testimony. He is the owner of Buffalo Outdoor Center in Ponca.
http://naturalresources.house.gov/uploa ... -02-12.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Waterman]

Thanks for posting this information. This was all new to me until I read the transcripts.

It is sad to see the National Park Service treat outfitters, who are almost always small businesses, like a regulated industry. Examples are onerous contracts (50+ pages), 10 year financial projections (anything beyond 1 year is absurd for businesses of this size and sophistication), 75-100 reports due each year (none of which are likely to be read), and costly insurance requirements (5K no fault medical coverage; 1-5M in liability coverage). However, the most insidious piece is the effort to pass NPS capital requirements off on outfitters through their maintenance clauses. I have no doubt this was one of many recommendations that the government consultants passed on to the NPS in 2009.

The new NPS regulations will not only increase the costs of a trip, but over time, their effect will certainly reduce the number of outfitters and concessionaries on the Buffalo and in the other national parks.

While most of us in the club now have our own equipment to take on floats and do not need outfitters to get on the Buffalo, many people get their only chance to experience the Buffalo by having outfitters available. For many years, the only reason I could take trips down the Buffalo was the availability of a number of good choices for outfitters, and I would hate to see that change.

[Deuce]

Well said Fletch one. I use BFRS for my shuttling needs and I would hate to lose him as an option. He's reasonable, dependable, and just plain old nice. I wonder what we as a group could do to help restore some sanity.

[Lucky13]

Yeah, that's pretty ridiculous, and people wonder why business can't flourish under mountains of regulation and bureaucracy. I have used the outfitters to shuttle my car, and will in the future unless the cost increases so much that it's not worth it. The same will probably go for many park goers, decreasing the outfitters revenue, and ultimately the parks revenue. So the NPS is really shooting itself in the foot. Hopefully the committee can listen to reason, and modify their implementation of the regulations, but since there is outdated policies in there from 29 years ago, that no longer make sense, but are still standing policy, I won't hold my breath.