Ancestral Pueblo cavates in Frijoles Canyon, Bandelier National Monument. Courtesy/NPS
BANDELIER News:
Bandelier National Monument is seeking public comment on possible increases in the park’s entry fees.
Snow limited the number of people attending the public meetings earlier in the month, but there is still time for anyone interested to submit comments by mail or online.
Current entrance fees, which allow re-entry into the monument for up to seven days, are $12 per private vehicle or motorcycle and $6 per person/bicycle. These fees date from 2006. Proposed fees are $20 per private vehicle, $10 per person or bicycle, and $15 per motorcycle.
The Bandelier Annual Pass, presently $30, would change to $40. Additional revenue generated will be used to enhance visitor services and facilities, especially important as the NPS approaches its centennial in 2016.
Comments about these proposed increases can be sent to the park via email at band_visitor_center@nps.gov and the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/.
Written comments can go to Joanie Budzileni, Bandelier National Monument, 15 Entrance Road, Los Alamos, NM, 87544, or dropped off at the park Visitor Center. The deadline for receiving comments is Feb. 15, 2015.
National park entrance fees are not charged to persons under 16 years of age. Holders of the Volunteer, Senior ($10, lifetime for US residents 62 and over), Active Duty Military (free, one year, renewable), and Access (free, lifetime for US residents who are permanently disabled) passes are admitted free. These passes, as well as the annual America the Beautiful Interagency Pass ($80 per year) and the Bandelier Annual Pass are all available at the Bandelier Visitor Center.
Basic park operations are funded by congressional appropriation, but the revenue from fee dollars supports the high level of satisfaction that visitors have come to expect and enjoy. In the summer of 2014, National Park Service (NPS) areas that charge fees were authorized to consider increases.
Of the 405 parks, monuments, recreation areas and other units of the National Park System, 131, or about a third, collect entrance fees. An increase to these fees can only be made after each park engages the public about the proposed changes and their effects. Feedback the park receives will help determine how and when a fee increase may be implemented, which could be as early as this year. The results are reported to and approved by the NPS director before any fee increase can take effect.
For more information on Bandelier’s park fees, contact Joanie Budzileni at 505.672.3861 x 410. For more information on Bandelier National Monument, check the park website atwww.nps.gov/band, or follow the Facebook page at BandelierNPS.
