Comment period extended for national park entry fee increase

The National Park Service has extended the public comment period for its proposal to increase entrance fees at 17 national parks, including Glacier Park.

The public comment period on this proposal began Oct. 24 and was scheduled to last until Nov. 23. However, the public comment period will now last until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 22.

The agency could not be reached for comment.

As the Daily Inter Lake reported last month, the proposed fee hikes, including $70 for a one-week vehicle pass, have been cast as necessary to fund maintenance backlogs in the park. But critics, including U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. and Steve Daines, R-Mont. say the increases could price local resdients out of the parks, and that maintenance should instead be funded by increasing the Park Service’s budget.

Public comments can be submitted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/proposedpeakseasonfeerates, or by mail to 1849 C Street, NW, Mail Stop: 2346 Washington, D.C. 20240.