(COLUMBIA FALLS, MT) – Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke called on the National Park Service to open an investigation into the details of the Booz Allen contract managing recreation.gov and calling on the National Park Service (NPS) to abandon the vehicle reservation system planned to soon go into effect at Glacier National Park. Zinke issued a letter to NPS and other agencies’ leadership following the April 6th bombshell report by the Wall Street Journal detailing a $140 million contract with a defense contractor to run recreation.gov. Earlier today Zinke hosted separate meetings with the Glacier National Park Superintendent Dave Roemer and a group of Glacier-area elected officials and business stakeholders in Columbia Falls. (photos available in links)
Zinke wrote: “During your recent appearance before the House Committee on Appropriations I raised the issue of Glacier National Park rationing access to the park and shutting out locals via a poorly conceived and executed vehicle reservation system. You committed to me that you would look for a solution and consider rolling back this policy that is deeply unpopular with local residents, small businesses and visitors…In light of the recent WSJ report, and the fact that the Glacier National Park reservation system is housed on recreation.gov, I am calling for a full investigation of both the Booz-Allen contract (dating back to the original contract and subsequent renewals), and the decision-making process to implement the Glacier Park reservation system… I am also calling on you to abandon the Glacier National Park reservation system until a full investigation has been completed and the findings reported to my office.”
In addition, Congressman Zinke requested the following information from the National Park Service:
- All documents including emails, internal memos, statements of opposition from local entities and tribes, text messages, etc. related to the decision-making, analysis, implementation and expansion of the Glacier National Park vehicle reservation system dating back to 2019 (emails organized either by conversation or chronologically)
- Any documents related to the NPS relationship with Booz-Allen as it concerns recreation.gov and/or ticketing and reservations
- Documents relating to costs, invoices and payments made by NPS to Booz-Allen for the Recreation.gov contract
- Communications between NPS and Booz-Allen related to this contract
- Any emails, text messages and documents related to fulfilling this request
