Reid says Red Rock user fees problem solved

"When they proposed these fees they said that every penny would stay in the park," Reid, D-Nev., said. "I was extremely disappointed earlier this year to see that wasn't necessarily the case."

Reid said he first raised concerns about the user fees in February after being contacted by groups dedicated to preserving Red Rock.

Some of the fees were going to help pay the salaries of BLM employees instead of going toward maintenance of the park.

While the BLM's funding for Las Vegas recreation management decreased 2 percent this year, the statewide recreation budget increased 13 percent, suggesting that the fees were being used as a basis for reducing the operating budget. That was forcing the BLM to spend the user fees on salaries and other operating costs, Reid said.

After several discussions between Reid and the BLM staff, Nevada BLM director Bob Abbey readjusted funding for the Las Vegas office in May.

"With this shift in funding, the BLM insists that all fees collected at Red Rock are being used for park improvements," Reid said.

Reid stated his concern over the fees in the 1999 Senate Interior Appropriations Bill.

Last week, Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., called for an accounting of the way the BLM spends the fees.

But Reid countered that he had already solved the problem.

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