Gulf Islands National Seashores Propose Fee Increases

Gulf Islands National Seashore officials are proposing a fee increase from $8 to $15 dollars; a $25 to $30 for an annual pass.  In addition park officials want to charge a new fee to travel the seven mile stretch between Navarre and Pensacola Beach, daytime hours, during tourist season. 

You have until January 2, 2015 to voice your opinion to park officials. 

EMAIL:  GUIS_superintendent@nps.gov

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE:  Gulf Islands National Seashore, Attn: Fee Program, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

FOR MORE INFO:  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=55396

 

 

Here are a few points that I made:

I am totally against the proposed fee restructure of Gulf Islands National Seashore; this includes raising park entrance fees!

First off, I don’t know why anyone would want to pay money to visit these beaches, when they can enjoy other parts of the island for free. 

Secondly, I live in Pensacola, and I am a witness to the lack of regard for the beaches that lie within the National Seashores.  Most times they are trashed and the chance of stepping on a toxic tar ball is much higher.  I never ever have seen a ranger, or anyone else for that matter, picking up trash on these beaches that fall under the National Seashores protection. 

Which brings me to this question, why do you need a raise?  Apparently, the only overhead the National Park service in this area has is paying for people to collect money at a guarded gate entrance into the park.  And the fees you are proposing go way beyond a cost of living raise for those employees. 

In addition, because I am a resident in this area, to pay a fee to use the road to get to Navarre from Pensacola, is an insult, after all these years of traveling that route for free.  You didn’t need the money to maintain the park then; then it would only make sense that you wouldn’t need it now, because nothing has changed.  It isn’t like you are offering to widen the lanes to include parking or anything along those lines.  Instead, the National Park service only sees an opportunity to make money.  This behavior is nothing more than an act of greed - plain and simple.

So as you see, there is no justification for these fee increases.  Adding an additional fee to travel between Navarre and Pensacola Beach would increase traffic on State Route 98, which is notorious for traffic accidents, and most certainly would contribute to the mortality rate, as well as the air pollution that comes with stop and go travelling.  So not only are you promoting an economical hardship upon an area of Florida whose citizens are financially challenged as it is, a fee increase would impact the health and wellbeing of those of us who live here as well.

You asked for my opinion and you got it.  Please reconsider your fee increase proposal.  The National Park Service was established to preserve and protect the natural beauty of this place we call Holy Ground.  Not make a mockery of it by taking advantage of the tourism industry.  Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,

SELLING PENSACOLA - Jobs & the Oil Industry

Has it really been that long ago that the people of Pensacola, Florida can not remember the devastation of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster?

Since the BP bungle, the health of the Gulf of Mexico remains in dire straits.  It hasn’t even begun to heal from the damage caused by the Corexit (a toxic oil dispersant), let alone the crude that gushed uncontrollably for eighty-seven days directly into the Gulf waters.

Despite the lesions on fish, the eyeless shrimp, the death of the oyster industry, dolphin and whale strandings, and the steady incline of vibrio vulnificus (flesh eating bacteria), Pensacola has opened its port to the oil and gas industry.  This includes a new manufacturing facility that would test flexible, deep sea piping.

In an inweekly (Independent News) article, reporter Shannon Nickinson writes, “. . . we are poised to exploit a niche market related to offshore oil and gas work that is bringing jobs into the community and investment into the Port of Pensacola.”

WHAT? 

According to the Pensacola News Journal, Buddy McCormick, vice president of offshore operations for Offshore Inland, said the average salary for the positions would be in the $60,000 range; that’s a six figure income for engineers, and $20 per hour for laborers.  An estimate of 200 new jobs was provided by the Pensacola News Journal, but if you do some research, you’ll find that DeepFlex Inc., the manufacturing company that is coming to the Port of Pensacola, states that only 100 direct jobs will be created.

The Houston BizBlog posted, “Houston-based DeepFlex manufactures flexible pipe used in the subsea oil and gas industry. The company currently has 100 employees, but about half of them are based in its Wisconsin manufacturing plant.”

And what about those 50 Wisconsin jobs?  Back to the Pensacola News Journal article, McCormick said the Pensacola plant is to replace the factory in Wisconsin.  Do you truly believe that those 50 people who are familiar with DeepFlex’s manufacturing operation will not be offered jobs here in Pensacola?  Of course they will. 

So now, we’re talking maybe 70 new jobs for the locals.  And don’t let the word laborers fool you.  I know plenty of laborers who have a technical degree to qualify for their jobs.  That could quite possibly narrow that number from 70 to just 30 jobs for the average Joe, if we’re lucky.

So is it really worth selling out to the oil industry?  Are we really going to pat ourselves on the back for attracting such an enterprise?   Where’s the pride?

In the meantime, we have pipe laying ships in and out of our port that spew carbon all day long.  We have tar mats laying just off our shores attracting the vibrio vulnificus bacteria.  And with new oil spills occurring, the oil companies are still using the same toxic dispersants they’ve been using for years.  No new research, no improvements on how to clean the oil from the water.

And here’s a little something more to chew on as we roll out the red carpet for the fossil fuel industry.  On March 13, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lifted its ban on BP’s drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.  Less than one week after the ban was lifted, BP bid on and won rights to drill in 24 new blocks of the Gulf of Mexico for $42 million. 

 

On March 25th, BP spilled tar sands (heavy sandy oil) into Lake Michigan just a few miles from Chicago. 

 

Then on April 28th, a BP pipeline ruptured spraying a 34-acre area with crude oil and natural gas along Alaska's North Slope.  To top it all off, shortly after the EPA lifted the ban, BP put an end to its internal claims program here in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

Aligning ourselves with an oil manufacturing company is the same as supporting BP, or any other oil and gas enterprise.  It doesn’t make good cents for tourism, if you know what I mean.  Oil and water just don’t mix!

BOOK: The Crude Oil Adventure of the Human Re-Evolution

 

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REVIEWS: 

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"A raw account of a personal journey through hell after the BP disaster takes the Sunshine State into darkness. Kim takes us through the Gulf Coast tragedy that impacted the health and welfare of people all along the Gulf region, the death of thousands of wildlife, plant life and a rare tribute to the death of the 11 men on the rig Deepwater Horizon. This is the read for anyone that wants to understand the impact of the BP tragedy had on one individual that reflects the stories of thousands. A narrative of sorrow, faith and belief we all can make a difference; reminding us of the rape mankind is having on Mother Earth though drilling, dumping, the spraying of deadly toxins on land and on the water with no regards to the lethal consequence on all life and the survival of the earth. She reminds us that none of us stand alone in the battle for the right of a clean and healthy environment."  - Gloria G. Horning, Ph.D. Social Justice Advocate and Scientist.

 

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Connecting the Dots - BP/Deepwater Horizon Disaster

July 6, 2012 - Connect the dots. When you view the news regarding the Gulf of Mexico this past month, you can't help but feel we're under a terrorist attack down here. The use of Corexit has been documented and seen from Louisiana to Florida. Including a large number of fish kills, and two newly reported stories regarding human health.

   THERE ARE FOUR PARTS TO THIS VIDEO


And here's a story of another fish kill in Miramar, Florida on July 18, 2012: 

THE FOLLOWING VIDEO WAS PROVIDED BY: Melissa Carter Neidert

Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach Florida. This was taken today at 7:00 pm. Over the past year we have lost our turtle population, then we watched our ducks disappear, and now our fish are dead!