11-15-11 “Last week, working with the New York Times, PEER exposed that the National Park Service (NPS) killed a planned ban on plastic water bottles at Grand Canyon National Park just days before it was to take effect. NPS Director Jon Jarvis personally intervened under pressure from Coca Cola, a mega-donor to NPS through the National Park Foundation and a major bottled water maker.
Rather than admit he caved to corporate arm twisting, Jarvis issued this statement:
“My decision to hold off the ban was not influenced by Coke, but rather the service-wide implications to our concessions contracts, and frankly the concern for public safety in a desert park.”
Public safety? Who does he think he’s kidding? Let’s think for a minute how unbelievable his statement is –
- Is he saying Grand Canyon was unsafe before the recent introduction of plastic bottles? Is a bottle of Dasani ® a vital lifeline even after the park spent more than $300,000 installing “watering stations” and made reusable containers available?
- Zion National Park banned plastic bottles more than two years ago. Last time I checked Zion is a desert park. No one has died of thirst and the NPS even gave the project an “Environmental Achievement Award.”
- Not even Coke contends its products are needed for public safety. Instead, the company argues the ban infringes on “consumer choice” as if a national park must serve as a shopping mall.
The NPS brain-trust apparently believes that the public just fell off a turnip truck and will buy any official explanation, no matter how incredible or idiotic.”
For the full article, click here: 11-15-11 PEER Who Does Jarvis Think He’s Kidding
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS
DECEMBER 9, 2011, MIDNIGHT MOUNTAIN TIME
CLICK THIS LINK TO MAKE COMMENTS
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=43390
