Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., co-sponsored a congressional bill that would bring additional funds to national parks across the country.
The bill was introduced at the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources late last week. Proposed in the bill is that 50 percent of excess funds from energy development — including oil, gas, coal and renewable and alternative sources — would go toward a new fund.
The proposed National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund would operate through the 2019 to 2023 fiscal years.
On the Senate floor Thursday, Gardner highlighted the need to “provide the funding necessary to help address the billions of dollars in deferred maintenance.” On a national scale, the National Park Service has $11 billion in maintenance backlog.
In Colorado, the park service reports over $238 million of maintenance backlog including nearly $71 million at Mesa Verde National Park. Among the backlog is the park’s famous Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling that remains closed, needing inspection and repair to prevent future rock falls at the site.
The bill is expected to be voted on by the committee later this month.
