The National Parks: Political versus Professional Determinants of Policy

Abstract

In the summer of 1988, the world watched as Yellowstone National Park appeared to go up in flames. The National Park Service (NPS) found itself under severe criticism for what popularly became known as its let bum policy, a policy that was perceived as allowing the unchecked destruction of the world's oldest national park. As the snows of winter put out the fires, the media turned its attention to other matters, but not before reporting various congressional calls for the resignation of high-level NPS officials and promises of hearings on fire policy. To many, the 1988 fires might be viewed as an isolated example of policy failure. Yet, the fires can more accurately be viewed as another cue that the policy, management, and future of America's national parks all remain unresolved.