Latest news with #DepartmentOfTheInterior
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
National Park Service's handling of wildfire that destroyed historic Grand Canyon Lodge questioned
Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz. — A wildfire that tore through a historic Grand Canyon lodge and raged out of control Monday had been allowed to burn for days before erupting over the weekend, raising scrutiny over the National Park Service's decision not to aggressively attack the fire right away. The wildfire along the canyon's more isolated North Rim, where most visitors don't venture, was burning quickly with no containment, fire officials said. No injuries had been reported, but more than 70 structures were lost, including a visitors center and several cabins. At first, the fire didn't raise alarms after igniting from a lightning strike on July 4. Four days later, the Park Service said the fire was being allowed to burn to benefit the land and fire crews who were keeping close watch. "There are no threats to infrastructure or public safety at this time," the park said on Facebook. Then three days later, on Friday, fire officials and the park service sent out warnings to "evacuate immediately" as the fire grew by nearly eight times within a day to more than 1.4 square miles. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs called for a federal investigation into the park service's handling of the fire. "The federal government chose to manage that fire as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer," the governor said in a social media post Sunday. She will be meeting with leadership in the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior soon to learn more about the decisions made in managing the wildfire, Hobbs' spokesperson Christian Slater said in an email. Authorities first used a "confine and contain" strategy but shifted to aggressive suppression as the fire - one of two that firefighters are dealing with on the North Rim - rapidly grew because of hot temperatures, low humidity and strong wind gusts, fire officials said. The Associated Press left phone and email messages Monday with a park service spokesperson seeking comment about how the fire was managed. The fire destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging inside the park's North Rim, along with employee housing and a wastewater treatment plant, park Superintendent Ed Keable said Sunday. Park officials have closed access for the rest of the year to the North Rim, a less popular area that draws only about 10% of the Grand Canyon's millions of annual visitors. Hikers in the area were evacuated and rafters on the Colorado River, which snakes through the canyon, were told to bypass Phantom Ranch, an outpost of cabins and dormitories. Trails to the area from the canyon's North and South rims also were closed. From the air, plumes of black smoke could be seen rising above the canyon walls and haze filled parts of the park. From the park's South Rim, visitors took pictures on Monday of the smoke blanketing the canyon in the distance. The fire flared up Saturday night, fueled by high winds. Firefighters managed to make progress, using aerial fire retardant drops near the lodge before they had to pull back because of a chlorine gas leak at the water treatment plant, the park service said. Hikers also were evacuated over concern that the poisonous, heavier-than-air gas could sink downhill, into the canyon. "Arizona lost more than a historic lodge, it lost a piece of our state history," said Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego in a message posted on social media. Gallego and fellow Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly ben Gallego sent a letter Monday to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum asking among other things how the administration planned to track wildfire decision-making under a recent executive order to consolidate federal firefighting forces into a single program. Across the West, about three dozen fires were burning uncontained and another 80 fires were being managed to clear out vegetation that has clogged the landscape, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. So far this year, nearly 2.5 million acres have burned. That's slightly below the 10-year average, the center said Monday. Along the Grand Canyon's North Rim, the Dragon Bravo Fire that destroyed the lodge and other buildings spread to nearly 9 square miles Monday. The White Sage Fire also grew significantly and have charred 77 square miles of terrain with no containment. Officials reported progress in battling the fire. The fires came three years after two errant prescribed fires conducted by the U.S. Forest Service sparked the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, which burned more than 530 square miles of the Rocky Mountain foothills and destroyed hundreds of homes. The Grand Canyon Lodge, known for its huge ponderosa beams, massive limestone facade and a bronze statue of a donkey named "Brighty the Burro," was perched on the edge of the North Rim and offered sweeping views of the canyon. "It was like you're looking at this movie all the time," said Erik Ammerlann, who lived in Arizona for most of his adult life and stayed at the lodge nearly 10 years ago. "You're really just one with nature." Aramark, the company that operated the lodge, said all employees and guests were safely evacuated. An original lodge burned down from a kitchen fire in 1932, four years after construction was completed, according to the Grand Canyon Historical Society. The redesigned lodge using the original stonework opened in 1937. Wildfire
Fox News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'America First' national parks plan from Trump slaps higher fees on foreign tourists
As millions of visitors flock to the breathtaking landscapes of America's national parks, the Trump administration is taking steps to "Make America Beautiful Again by improving our national parks." President Trump signed an executive order late last week laying out a number of ways to improve access, further preservation, expand opportunity and improve affordability, according to the executive order. "It is the policy of my Administration to preserve these opportunities for American families in future generations by increasing entry fees for foreign tourists," the executive order notes. Doug Burgum, secretary of the Department of the Interior, will be tasked with developing a strategy to "increase revenue" and "improve the recreational experience" by increasing entrance fees and park pass fees for nonresidents. While most national parks are free to enjoy, about 106 parks have fees for private vehicles and/or per person charges. The vehicle fee applies to one vehicle and its passengers, while the per-person fee applies individually if people enter on foot or by bike, according to the NPS website. President Trump announced the new policy while at a "Salute to America" event kicking off America 250 at the Iowa State Fair this past Thursday. "To fund improvements and enhance experiences across the park system, for this anniversary, I've just signed an executive order to raise entrance fees for foreign tourists while keeping prices low for Americans," said the president in part. He added, "The national parks will be about America first. We're going to take it. America first for the national parks." An Interior Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital this week, "This is a common-sense, sustainable step to preserve our national treasures without increasing the cost burden on American citizens." The spokesperson added, "With record visitation, this approach ensures that all who benefit from these iconic places contribute to their care and longevity." Fox News Digital previously reported a "two-tier" pricing system at parks, hotels, and even restaurants in Japan as officials grapple with the issue of overtourism. Yukiyoshi Noguchi, counselor, Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., said at the time, "Japanese people sometimes say [that] Japanese people cannot enjoy the domestic tourism." A staggering 331,863,358 people visited America's 400 national parks in 2024, according to NPS. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee is the most popular park, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The Grand Canyon in Arizona is the second most visited park — with Yosemite National Park following in third place.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Canadian visitors face higher fees at US national parks
Canadians visiting US national parks will soon pay higher entry fees. On July 3, President Trump signed an executive order increasing fees for all foreign tourists. The White House stated these additional funds will go towards improving park services, access, and affordability for Americans. A new executive order directs the Secretary of the Interior to raise national park fees exclusively for foreign visitors. The goal is to make these parks more affordable and enjoyable for American families. The new fees are expected to generate over $90 million, earmarked for conservation, reducing maintenance backlogs, and improving park infrastructure. The U.S. Department of the Interior's recent Budget in Brief indicates the National Park Service (NPS) will implement this surcharge for foreign visitors in 2026. Daily Hive has contacted the NPS for further details. While many U.S. national parks offer free public access, popular destinations like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite charge entry fees. Annual passes for these parks can cost up to US70(C95.25). The White House states that increasing fees for foreign tourists aligns with global national park policies, which often charge non-residents more to support conservation and make parks more affordable for locals. Despite the fee increases, some American politicians are actively working to attract Canadian tourists, whose cross-border travel has significantly declined. For instance, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a new tourism campaign in April with the direct appeal: "A message for our Canadian friends: come visit California." To show solidarity with their northern neighbors amidst strained relations, officials in Burlington, Vermont, temporarily renamed its popular Church Street to Canada Street. Burlington City Councillor Becca Brown McKnight explained the move to Daily Hive, stating, 'Vermonters overall, and Burlingtonians in particular, including myself, are downright fed up with Donald Trump's damaging policy choices and negative rhetoric.' For Canadian outdoor enthusiasts staying closer to home, the Canada Strong Pass offers fantastic domestic park benefits until September 2. This pass provides free admission to national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas. It also includes free entry for children aged 17 and under to national museums, making it ideal for families.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US DOI grants new coal mining permit for Hurricane Creek Mining
The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has granted approval to Hurricane Creek Mining to commence coal mining operations on Bryson Mountain in Claiborne County, Tennessee. The approval enables the project to produce up to 1.8 million tonnes (mt) of coal up to 2034. The coal extracted from Bryson Mountain will bolster critical industries such as steelmaking and power generation. Hurricane Creek Mining has been authorised to employ surface mining techniques such as auger, highwall and contour methods, across 635 acres. Land and minerals management acting assistant secretary Adam Suess stated: 'This project reflects a broader shift, one where American resources are being put to work for American strength. 'We're not just issuing permits — we're supporting communities, securing supply chains for critical industries and making sure the US stays competitive in a changing global energy landscape.' The permit was fast-tracked through an expedited environmental review process, in line with procedures established to accelerate energy project evaluations under the national energy emergency declared by President Trump. This move also aligns with Executive Order 14261, titled Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and reflecting the government's commitment to fostering reliable coal production and expanding the nation's energy resources. The approval also complements the legislative support for the coal sector provided by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes measures such as reduced royalty rates for federal coal mining and expanded federal coal leasing opportunities. The DOI has also approved a significant expansion of the Bull Mountains coal mine in Montana which could extend the mine's lifespan by up to nine years. This approval allows Signal Peak Energy to extract an additional 22.8mt of federal coal and 34.5mt of non-federal coal. "US DOI grants new coal mining permit for Hurricane Creek Mining" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
08-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US issues expedited permit for proposed Tennessee coal mine
July 8 (Reuters) - The Trump administration said it permitted a proposed coal mine in Claiborne County, Tennessee on Tuesday under an expedited process aimed at accelerating federal environmental reviews of energy projects. In a statement, the Department of the Interior said it granted approval for Hurricane Creek Mining LLC to mine coal on Bryson Mountain in Claiborne County, Tennessee. The mine will produce up to 1.8 million tons of coal over the next decade, the agency said. The site was previously mined at various times between the 1950s and 2010. The rushed permit is aligned with President Donald Trump's goal to increase coal mining as part of his energy dominance agenda. The project is on private land but under federal law must be permitted by Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. Hurricane Creek Mining could not immediately be reached for comment. In April, Interior said it would implement an emergency permitting process for energy and mining projects, slashing approval times that typically take months or years to 28 days. The department took another action this week to support coal. Interior's Bureau of Land Management on Monday said it is taking public comment on opening up coal leasing on public lands in the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming. Comments will be taken through August 7 on opening up lands that former President Joe Biden put off-limits to leasing.
