1985 [PDF] - Yosemite

I: °CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS HELD IN YOSEMITEconcern regarding congestion in the Valley and resulting pollutionOn October 15, the Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreationconducted a field inspection and oversight hearings inand damage to the Park. Noting previous YP&CC projects such asthe Recycling Program, relocation of warehouse and reservationsYosemite. Yosemite was chosen, according to Subcommitteefacilities to Fresno, and joint efforts with NPS to establish bikepathsand promote shuttle bus usage, Mr. Hardy promised contin-Chairman Bruce Vento of Minnesota, because Yosemite NationalPark "typifies, better than almost any other unit in the NationalPark System, the problems of trying to protect park resourcesued support for N PS ecological and interpretive goals.Noting that the comments of Mr. Hardy and Mr. Binnewiesfrom the conflicts inherent with a modern society."Also sitting on the subcommittee, a part of the Committee onclosely paralleled each other regarding their concerns for Yosemite,Chairman Vento commended Mr. Hardy for a "masterful job"Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives, werearea Congressmen Tony Coelho of Mariposa-Merced andas concessioner. He was "most impressed with the close, cooperativeefforts of YP&CC for the concerns of the NPS," and said itRichard Lehman of Tuolumne.was a pleasure to see the cooperativefforts of government and aprivate concessioner work so well.The Chairman also applauded the Yosemite Association for itssensitivity and efforts to "develop a real renewal of interest" inproviding a quality visitor experience.Concern for the preservation of the Merced River was the mostemotionally-charged issue of the day and a major point made byvirtually every speaker including Jeanne Adams of the AnselAdams Gallery, Steve Medley, President of the Yosemite Association,and Ron Stork, Executive Director of the Merced CanyonCommittee. Stork, in written testimony, presented a strong argumeritfor preservation of the Merced under the National Wild andScenic Rivers Act of 1968, and denial of the Keating projectrequesto build a hydroelectric dam at El Portal.Garrett De Bell, YP&CC Environmental Advisor, appearing as aprivate citizen, presented written testimony addressing recent.... ’::’ . i !Congressional Committeemembers, Lehman, Vento and projects in the Yosemite area, and expressed praise for the NPSCoelho at hearings.Resource Management Staff for their efforts to reinstate the PeregrineFalcon, stabilize the bear population and implement a fireWitnesses who testified before the Committee included representativesfrom surrounding communities, environmentalists The need for financial commitment to advanced emergencymanagement program.from various national and local organizations, private citizens, medical care in Yosemite was addressed by Dr. James Wurgler ofand Park residents, Concerns of these witnesses ranged from the Yosemite Medical Group; a private citizen, Jeff Jesse, spokehousing, schooling and medical care, to overflights, conservation eloquently of his concern for the overflight program in Yosemite,of resources and the effect of the Park on the local business and others addressed housing and educational needs in the Park,communities.The nearly six hours of testimony and questioning before theSpeaking on behalf of the National Park Service were Yosemite Committee was open to the public and the East Auditorium of theSuperintendent Robert O, Binnewies and Western Regional Visitor Center was filled to capacity throughout by communityDirector of the NPS, Howard Chapman. Calling Americans "heirs residents and Park visitors, as well as school children witnessing ato a great estate," Mr. Binnewies urged the "need to match human bit of history in the making.wisdom with natural beauty," and expressed the urgent need foradequate funding in order to maintain the quality visitor experience.YOSEMITE SENTINELThe Chair acknowledged the adverse affects of "lack of commitmentothis resource" financially, and noted the long-termEditor ......................................Tom WilliamsContributing Staff ................. Tim Arnst, Annette Bottaro,Chet Brooks, Jr., Garrett De Bell,effect would be "a real decline of the resource and the experience.Front page photograph by Herbert Schog, entitled "El Capitan."Judy Ernest, Kim SaundersOutlining budget priorities for Yosemite, Mr, "Binnewies listed (Second Prize winner, color category, 1985 MCA INK Photo Contest,)housing in El Portal, improvements to visitor services, relocation Focus photographs from the YP&CC files. Congressional Hearingof warehousing and maintenance facilities to El Portal, conversion photo by Michael Dixon. Photography of Mr. and Mrs. Hardy, Hire theHandicapped Award by Brian Grogan.of Camp 6 to a day-use picnic area, and various road projects.The Yosemite Sentinel is published monthly by Yosemite Park andRepresenting the Yosemite Park and Curry Company, PresidentEd Hardy expressed his support for the efforts of Superincomedat the Sales and Marketing Office or call 372-1445.Curry Company for the Yosemite Community. Contributions are weltendentBinnewies and the National Park Service, and voiced his/