News Releases for January 2003
January 16, 2003
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Statement Of Governor John Hoeven On The Proposed National Park Service Acquisition Of The Ebert Ranch
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the National Park Service’s proposal to acquire the Ebert Ranch:
“Tourism is now our state’s second largest industry owing to our aggressive marketing of North Dakota’s many destinations of interest. We are committed to building and expanding our tourism industry, and we want to do all that we can to enhance it in a way that is responsible to our people and our environment. The Ebert Ranch question is about doing things right and moving our tourism efforts forward in a positive way.
“The National Park Service has come in with a proposal to purchase the Ebert Ranch, adjacent to the Elkhorn Ranch, that, as proposed, will neither enhance nor develop tourism in the region. At the same time, their proposal would eliminate hunting, grazing, oil development and other existing uses in the area. Involved are five western North Dakota Counties - Billings, McKenzie, Stark, Dunn and Golden Valley - with a legitimate interest in how this proposal is resolved. They all oppose the plan as proposed.
“As proposed, the Park Service has neither a plan nor the funds to manage the land now under its control, no less the new property it seeks to obtain. The Park Service also seems unwilling to accept enhancement even at no cost to the agency.
“Twice within recent years, Billings County has asked the Park Service for permission to build a bridge, at the county’s expense, from the east side of the Little Missouri River to the Elkhorn Ranch. This would have given tourists easier access to the site and enhanced the tourism potential for other communities in the region. Instead of partnering on a project that would have benefited the county and the state, however, the Park Service refused.
“Our opposition to the current National Park Service’s proposal is based on these important concerns. We are willing to support expanding and developing the site of the Elkhorn Ranch, but we want it done right. That means that the Park Service needs to sit down with the affected counties to produce a plan that will not only preserve the site, but also ensure that it is properly managed and enhanced to benefit the residents of the area and the state of North Dakota.”
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