National parks across the US will remain open to visitors under a shutdown but most facilities — including bathrooms — will be shuttered, according to the Interior Department’s 2018 contingency plan.
That means visitors who planned to visit a national park over the holidays will still be able to do so but will have to go without guidance from any NPS officials.
Visitors centers, bathrooms, campsites, trash collection and road maintenance will all be closed and halted in a potential shutdown, according to the federal plan. NPS employees will have as little as four hours to complete their “shutdown activities” before entering furlough status.
“Effective immediately upon a lapse in appropriations, the National Park Service will take all necessary steps to suspend all activities and secure national park facilities that operate using appropriations that are now lapsed, except for those that are essential to respond to emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property,” according to the plan.
Free standing gift shops, lodging and gas stations will remain open if they don't require assistance by federal employees, according to a NPS spokesperson.
"In the event of a government shutdown national parks will remain as accessible as possible while still following all applicable laws and procedures. For example, this means that roads that have already been open will remain open (think snow removal) and vault toilets (wilderness type restrooms) will remain open," the spokesperson told The Hill.
"However services that require staffing and maintenance such as campgrounds and full service restrooms, will not be operating."
Source:
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/422487-under-shutdown-national-parks-to-stay-open-without-staff
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