Thanks to the General Accounting Office, we can now show that these statements by Mr. Stein and Mr. Bohlen are misleading. The GAO advises me: 1. That in 1973 there was a convention at Yosemite every month. There has also been one every month this year. In fact, in 1973 there were 11,035 room-nights set aside for conventions, and by the end of 1974 there will be 11,846 room-nights set aside for this purpose. More than 12,000 room-nights for conventions are projected for 1975. 2. MCA, Inc., has already booked a number of conventions at Yosemite National Park for every month in 1975 except December. Some of the organizations booked are: First Annual Winter Wine Festival. USC School of Medicine. Conference on Human Sexuality. Telco Leasing. 3. Many conventions require more than 100 rooms. The first of these conventions will take place next month and will require 110 rooms at the Ahwahnee Hotel. What about the First Annual Winter Wine Festival? Was the Park Service informed about this festival? The answer is yes, but not until after the promotional materials had already been distributed by MCA and the event was completely reserved. Thus, the Park Service had nothing to do but to approve the festival on December 9, 1974. Indeed, Superintendent Arnberger did just that, but he said: While such special events are not specifically prohibited by your contract or Service policy, it does seem that in view of all the adverse publicity of the last few months that the appropriateness of this event might have been questioned. I think you would be well advised to screen special events and meetings more carefully to insure, insofar as possible, that they are more in keeping with the philosophy and purposes of this great National Park. I can readily understand your desire to attract such use during the "off season"; however, I would suggest that you consider the opportunities that might be available by working more closely with organizations, agencies, professional groups, etc., whose activities are more closely related to the deeper meanings and purposes of Yosemite. It seems to me that meetings and special events of such park-related groups could be of significant benefit to both the Park and to the Curry Co. While I have some reservations about the wine festival, I understand promotional materials are already distributed and the event is completely reserved already. Under these circumstances, it is approved. [The letter to which Mr. Dingell referred above and other data relating to the winter wine festival are printed at pp. 317-321.] Mr. DINGELL. Today we want to ask the National Park Service about this use of the national parks for convention purposes in competition with hotels and motels located on non-Federal lands. We also want to know why the NPS has taken more than a year to renegotiate MCA's franchise fees. Mr. REUSS. At this point, I ask unanimous consent to insert in the record our subcommittees' correspondence with the NPS, the NPS concession contract with Yosemite Park and Curry Co., and our subcommittees' staff memorandum and related correspondence. [The correspondence and contract follow. The staff memorandum and related material are printed in app. 1.] CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. ROGERS MORTON, Secretary, Department of the Interior DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I am greatly outraged that the Music Corporation of America, a concessionaire at Yosemite National Park, is aggressively promoting the Park as a convention center. I know of nothing in the statutes or the regulations that would authorize this kind of undertaking by the Park Service or by its concessionaires. Indeed, I have heard reports that MCA bought Yosemite National Park several months ago, or that the Corporation bought the concession rights and facilities in Yosemite with the view of undertaking the kind of inconsistent and outrageous development to which I refer. I note a public meeting was held recently in Yosemite for the purpose of hearing a proposal by MCA to replace 150 lower cost tent and cabin accommodations with hotel units which are more expensive. It has already been reported to me that the Yosemite Valley has been blighted with five bars, two grocery stores with liquor outlets, three overnight accommodation complexes, two cafeterias, four restaurants, one hamburger stand, two service stations, a brand new jail, a heavy overpopulation, crime and pollution of the air and water. MCA's exploitive drive would add to this outrage. I wish to know what is going on with regard to Yosemite, and also to know what is going on with regard to the master plan in Yosemite and other National Parks regarding the kind of overdevelopment and promotion which I, as a former Park Service Ranger, find intensely obnoxious. I also wish to be informed in what other National Park areas MCA holds concessions. The instructions and policies of the National Park Service with regard to the above points and whether or not the actions of MCA have the approval of the Park Service are matters of considerable interest to me. I will find myself incapable of believing that the Park Service is not condoning this kind of action unless I receive a clear statement that corrective steps will be taken by your agency. The National Parks are a great national treasure and it is the duty of this Administration, as it is the duty of all other Administrations to protect them. I can only view this unfortunate result as clear evidence that the present Director of the Park Service is unfit for his high duty of protecting the well-being of the National Parks from overdevelopment and unwise exploitation. Your early response is urgently requested. Sincerely, JOHN D. DINGELL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D.C., August 13, 1974. Hon. JOHN D. DINGELL, DEAR JOHN: Let me hasten to assure you that we have no intention of adding to the problems at Yosemite by building a convention center. Any facility we authorize there will be to accommodate persons who come to see the park and not to encourage people to come there for other reasons than to enjoy the natural beauty. You asked what park areas other than Yosemite the Music Corporation of America holds concessions in. Two MCA subsidiaries, Almours Securities, Inc. and Landmark Services, Inc., operate in the National Capital Parks (Washington. D.C. and environs). Sincerely yours, ROGERS MORTON, Secretary of the Interior. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PLANNING AND CONCESSION OPERATIONS JOINT HEARING BEFORE CERTAIN SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE COMMITTEE ON AND THE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION DECEMBER 20, 1974 Printed for the use of the Committee on Government Operations and 47-059 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1974 COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS JACK BROOKS, Texas CHET HOLIFIELD, California, Chairman L. H. FOUNTAIN, North Carolina JOHN E. MOSS, California TORBERT H. MACDONALD, Massachusetts BENJAMIN S. ROSENTHAL, New York FERNAND J. ST GERMAIN, Rhode Island FLOYD V. HICKS, Washington JOHN CONYERS, JR., Michigan HAROLD D. DONOHUE, Massachusetts FRANK HORTON, New York PAUL N. MCCLOSKEY, JR., California JOEL PRITCHARD, Washington HERBERT ROBACK, Staff Director CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE JOHN E. MOSS, California L. H. FOUNTAIN, North Carolina GUY VANDER JAGT, Michigan PAUL N. MCCLOSKEY, JR., California JOEL PRITCHARD, Washington EX OFFICIO CHET HOLIFIELD, California FRANK HORTON, New York PHINEAS INDRITZ, Chief Counsel FRANCES C. CLEMENTS, Assistant Clerk |