[Geysers] New NPS policy implemented

[Freund, Udo]

The National Park Service has implemented a plan to enable parks to share profits from research within their boundaries.

The policy applies to more than 200 national parks hosting independent research.

At issue is bioprospecting, or searching for organisms with uses in chemistry and medicine. An example is bacteria from Yellowstone National Park that gave rise to modern genetic testing, an industry now worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Some environmentalists question the rules that went into effect last month, saying parks shouldn't have a profit incentive when they decide which research to allow.

Park Service officials say the rules still prohibit harmful activities such as removing more than very small amounts of natural materials.

While most of us know this activity has been going on for many years, it now carries the weight of an official policy.  Knowing that NPS is usually shorthanded implies that not all researchers will have official oversight, so therein lies the potential for some . . um . . stupidity.  Gazers should be concerned and report to law enforcement personnel if they see anyone, not just bioprospectors, causing obvious damage to a geothermal feature or its surroundings.

Thanks,
Udo Freund


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