Zinke Releases Video Urging Action on Maintenance Backlog

It’s time to get serious about the maintenance backlog in America’s Great Outdoors. That’s the message of a striking new video from the Department of the Interior. The video was premiered at a Capitol Hill event hosted by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and featuring Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Mark Warner (D-VA) July 31. To see the full video, click here.
America’s public lands and waters host nearly 900 million recreation visits every year, providing significant economic benefits to communities across the country. But major problems still remain. The combined deferred maintenance and repair backlog of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service – which amounts to $18.62 billion and includes trails, campgrounds, roads, visitor centers, bathrooms, staff housing, water systems, thousands of historic buildings and more – hampers access to, and enjoyment of America’s public lands and waters by visitors everywhere.
“Last year, more than 300 million people visited America’s national parks. Unfortunately, many roads and bridges, visitor centers, historic buildings, trails and campgrounds in our parks need critical repairs and upgrades to meet the needs of today’s visitors,” says the video. “The national parks are special places of wonder. We must meet the challenge of preserving them for our children and grandchildren.” Read more









