WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps issued the following statement in response to testimony given by the National Park Service Director Mary Bomar in a hearing today before the Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

“As a new Member of the Natural Resources Committee I believe that protecting public access to all of our National Parks should be a priority.  Currently an unusual private hunting operation prevents public access to 90% of Santa Rosa Island during the nearly 6 months of the year when it is best to visit this National Park.  I want to work with the Park Service and Vail and Vickers to carry out the terms of the court ordered settlement agreement that would end the hunting operation and open the Island to year round visitation by 2011.

“At today’s hearing the National Park Service Director reiterated the Park Service’s opposition to keeping the non-native animals on the Island past 2011.  That’s good news for the public who have been denied full access to this National Park for which they paid $30 million dollars.  Imagine if during the high season for visitors at Yosemite or Yellowstone we restricted visitors to only 10 percent of those National Parks so a few people could go hunting.  The public wouldn’t stand for it and they’d be right.  And we shouldn’t stand for it at Santa Rosa. 

“I am pleased that the Park Service is following through on improvements to the Island’s infrastructure in anticipation of increased visitation to the Park following the end of hunting in 2011.  Efforts to interfere with the court ordered settlement agreement that would open the entire Island to the public year round are unfair and misguided.  We should oppose efforts to kick the public off its National Parks.  It is my hope that the Committee will act to address this matter in the near future.”

A webcast of the Subcommittee is expected to be posted on the website of the Natural Resources Committee later today.  Please click here for that website.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.