Questions Glacier National Park's 'partners'

I would like to inject a few comments concerning Chris Peterson’s article, “Glacier Park’s fundraiser partner releases strategic plan” in the April 23 issue of the Hungry Horse News.

“Now according to (Glacier National Park) Conservancy CEO Mark Priess, the two entities (Glacier National Park Conservancy and Glacier National Park) will collaborate in a longer-range planning effort that not only involves the Conservancy and the Park but other partners, including the new Park concessioner Xanterra Parks and Resorts.”

What does the word Conservancy and Xanterra Parks and Resorts have in common. Nothing. They do not have similar missions, objectives, goals, plans or incentives. They will mix like oil and water.

A massive corporation like Xanterra Parks and Resorts will politically and financially outgun any conservation efforts that the Conservancy or the Park wishes to accomplish. Preservation and conservation will be squashed so that human numbers, money and development of the Park’s wild land can be accommodated.

A visit to Grand Canyon National Park will shed light on the incredible extortion efforts Xanterra Parks and Resorts has made on the National Park Service. The canyon is held hostage by a greedy and developmental monster. The money machine of Xanterra Parks and Resorts is the Tammany Hall of the canyon. It is the Pendergast Machine of northern Arizona.  

What does Glacier National Park Conservancy conserve? According to the Merriam’s-Webster Dictionary, a conservancy is an organization that works to protect animals, plants and natural resources, especially by purchasing and caring for areas of land; the careful maintaining and protection of something valuable especially in its natural or original state. Synonyms of the word conservancy include preservation and sustentation.

The article states that the nonprofit will support and enhance the Park’s programs, projects and experience, including moving a visitor center in Apgar, and perhaps even expanding the facility.

How does development and ever more expansion of facilities inside a national park relate to what a conservancy actually does? Why does it not provide protection for the land against development and expanding front country services?

This Conservancy is not what its name implies. It will do nothing to counteract Xanterra Parks and Resorts’ sinister ambitions.  

Letting Xanterra Parks and Resorts into Glacier Park will ultimately be the most devastating mistake of the area’s history. Philip Anschutz, owner, is appertained in drilling companies, oil businesses, stocks, real estate and development, railroads, entertainment companies and telecommunications.

He owns stakes in Major League Soccer and many of its teams, the L.A. Lakers and Kings, and in massive venues like the Staples Center and the Home Depot Center. He developed the largest oil field discovery in the United States since Prudhoe Bay along the Utah and Wyoming border, selling interest to Mobil Oil.

He was and is directly involved with the Union Pacific Railroad, Clarity Media Group, Forest Oil Corporation, Pacific Energy Group, Regal Entertainment Group, Oil and Gas Asset Clearing House, NRC Broadcasting, Anschutz Investing Company, Oklahoma Publishing Company, Power Company of Wyoming LLC, and the Anschutz Exploration Company.

This is not to mention the fracking and drilling controversy that occurred next to Glacier Park’s eastern boundary on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

Is this the type of man and corporation we want to allow in such a beautiful wild place such as Glacier Park? Is Glacier Park’s wilderness in the best interest of this man and corporation?

The bull is loose in the china shop, and we should take note of what breaks and hopefully all will not be lost before the whole place comes down.

Matthew Chappell lives in Grand Canyon, Ariz.