Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: February 4, 2000

Contact: John Wright 202/208-6416

Secretary Babbitt Announces Appointments to Citizens Advisory
Committee for Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today announced the appointment of members to serve on the Going-to-the-Sun Road Advisory Committee for Glacier National Park. The 17-member committee will advise and make recommendations to the Interior Secretary and the National Park Service (NPS) concerning alternatives for the reconstruction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

"This very important and talented committee will advise on the construction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, focusing on road condition, reconstruction strategies, including scheduling, cost and measures to mitigate impacts on visitors, resources, and local economies," said Babbitt. "I look forward to the benefit of their recommendations."

The Going-to-the-Sun Road is the only through road across Glacier National Park via the Continental Divide at Logan Pass and is one of the most visited features in the park. Each year, nearly two million visitors travel the 52-Mile roadway, the only access to many of the park's outstanding attractions. The road is a National Historic Landmark, a National Civil Engineering Landmark , and is listed on the Register of Historic Places in recognition of its significance as both historic and cultural resource.

The following members will serve for a four-year term effective immediately:

Representing the interests of the Blackfeet Tribe:
Mr. Don White, Transportation Planner, Blackfeet Tribe, Browning, MT

Representing the interests of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes:
Mr. Tom McDonald, Program Manager, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Pablo, MT

Representative of local government within the area immediately east of Glacier National Park:
Hon. Lowell Meznarich, Chairman, Glacier County Commissioners, Cut Bank, MT

Representative of local government within the area immediately west of Glacier National Park:
Hon. Paul Sliter, Montana House of Representatives, business owner, Kalispell, MT

Representative of the state government of Montana/ from recommendations of the Governor of Montana:
Ms. Anna Marie Moe, Economic Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor of Montana

Representatives (2) of local business within the multiple county area immediately east of Glacier National Park:
Mr. William (Will) Brooke, President, Glacier-Waterton Visitor's Association, attorney-at-law and business owner, St. Mary, MT

Ms. Mary Sexton, Teton County Commissioner, Board member, Choteau Chamber of Commerce & business owner, Choteau, MT

Representatives (2) of local business within the multiple county area immediate west of Glacier National Park:
Ms. Susie Burch, Board of Directors, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, business owner/park concessioner, Kalispell, MT

Mr. William (Bill) Dakin, business owner, Columbia Falls, MT

Representative from recommendations of a state and/or national tourism (marketing) organization:
Ms. Linda J. Anderson, Executive Director, Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission, Bigfork, MT

Representative from recommendations of a national environmental organization:
Mr. Tony Jewett, Regional Director, National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA), Helena, MT

Representative from recommendations of a national historic preservation organization:
Ms. Barbara Pahl, Director, Mountains/Plains Region, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Denver, CO

Representative having engineering expertise of national reputation:
Mr. Byron J. (Barney) O'Quinn, Engineer, Senior Program Manager & Director, of Transportation Environmental Programs, ARCADIS Geraghty & Miller, Raleigh, NC

Representative having economic expertise of national reputation:
Prof. David H. Jackson, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

At-Large Representative:
Mr. Randall Ogle, Past President, Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, attorney-at-law, Kalispell, MT

Two representatives from Canada from recommendations of the Tourism and Business Communities of Southern Alberta:
Ms. Jayne Kremenik, Alberta Community Development, Regional Marketing Officer, Historic Sites Service, Lethbridge, Alberta

Mr. Brian R. Baker, Chinook Country Tourist Association, Founder, Waterton Visitor Services Corp., Waterton business owner, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta

Congress stipulated that appropriated funds authorized via the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277) should be used for an engineering study, an economic analysis, and a citizen advisory committee with which the Federal Highway Administration and the NPS could consult in making recommendations concerning the repair of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Park staff will provide overall administrative and technical support for the Advisory Committee as well as funding of the biannual public meetings for the next two years.

The aging road is in serious need of rehabilitation to correct structural, drainage, and visitor safety problems. No major restoration work has been conducted on the upper portions of the road since construction was completed in 1932. The NPS, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration, has estimated that the road will require somewhere between $80 and $100 million to reconstruct on an accelerated schedule. It has also been estimated that when the Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to trans-mountain traffic, the road generates approximately one million dollars per day to the surrounding communities. The failing condition of the road, heavy visitor use and economic impact of the road has generated significant public awareness of the issues and a desire by the public to be involved in the resolution of the problems in a meaningful way.

The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for February 28, 2000, in Kalispell, Montana.

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