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The National Park Service (NPS) released the final version of its revised Management Policies on August 31, 2006, after years of contentious debate centered largely on proposed changes that would have given more consideration to recreation and other park uses at the expense of conservation. The proposed policies would have reversed the core founding principles that have governed how the parks have been run since the system was created in 1916.

Earlier this year, Scenic America was one of many concerned advocacy groups and citizens that provided comments on the Park Service’s proposed policy revisions (Scenic Overlook: January ’06, February ‘06) that would have profoundly damaged the national park system. Scenic America’s comments encouraged the Park Service to maintain its existing policy language that emphasizes the Park Service’s central mission - to conserve the natural, scenic and cultural resources of the parks.

The final policy backs away from proposed revisions that would have forced a shift in policy tone towards “balancing” conservation goals with other park uses (such as recreation) and instead clearly puts the emphasis back on the goal of protecting resources. Language ensuring the protection of the scenic character of our national parks is also strengthened throughout the document. The final policy reinforces the need for visually-sensitive design for roads, parking lots, visitor centers and other facilities, and encourages planning strategies aimed at the protection of scenic vistas from within park boundaries. 

In addition, following the recommendation of Scenic America, proposed language in the draft policy that would have weakened the existing policy that discourages billboards outside of National Parks was removed and the stronger, old language was retained. 

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The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently concluded a Peer Exchange on Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) in Baltimore, Maryland. Scenic America’s president, Kevin Fry, and Brad Cownover, our Director of Scenic Conservation, both attended the event and helped facilitate break-out sessions involving key individuals from state departments of transportation and FHWA, as well as private citizens and professional experts involved in transportation projects. 

Context Sensitive Solutions is a term used to describe a transportation planning and design process which essentially says that when transportation projects such as highways or bridges are built, they should reflect and respect the context in which they exist, such as the scenic, cultural, natural, or historic aspects of the community. CSS also emphasizes collaboration with the community in the planning process so that solutions are not imposed on a place from the outside, but are influenced by the goals and visions of the people who live there. FHWA has included CSS as one of its Vital Few Goals, including a requirement that all state departments of transportation integrate CSS into their organization by 2007. 
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UPDATE ON CHALLENGE TO THE HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION ACT

As we reported in the last issue of Scenic Overlook, the outdoor advertising industry is, for the second time this year, attempting to weaken a key provision of the Highway Beautification Act by sneaking language into the Energy and Water Appropriation bill, of all things!  The proposed change would allow states to opt out of a key provision of the HBA that says that “nonconforming” billboards in so-called “commercial and industrial areas” may not rebuilt if they are destroyed by natural disasters.  Click here for more background on the issue.

Scenic America is currently working with our allies on Capitol Hill to fight this proposed change.  There is a "Dear Colleague" letter in the works, which will gain momentum as it goes through the halls of Congress and ultimately put pressure on the conference committee to strip this provision from the bill.  We have also drafted, along with numerous other partner organizations, a letter to members of Congress making them aware of this sneaky billboard provision and of our intense opposition to it.

Keep an eye out in the coming days for more information from Scenic America on this evolving situation.  Look for an email alert that will allow you to easily take action and contact your members of Congress to voice your disapproval of this provision.  We'll need you to pass the alert on to as many people as possible so we can make a strong showing and let the billboard industry know we won't be bullied!

In the meantime consider making a donation to help Scenic America fight the outdoor advertising industry and protect the intrinsic character of our communities and countryside.  Make an online donation of $50 or more and we'll send you a free Scenic America mouse pad!  Thank you for your continued support.

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The billboard industry touted the supposed wonders of electronic (LED) signs at a recent conference of the National Alliance of Highway Beautification Agencies (NAHBA), an organization made up of the people who regulate billboards in state departments of transportation. It's an issue most of them will be dealing with very soon. Scenic America's participants in the conference strongly objected to industry claims and made the point that these signs pose significant aesthetic and driver-safety issues.

Also, there's word of yet another new billboard technology. From Newsfactor.com:  "The company Magink, based in Israel, has developed a digital ink technology that is based on helix-shaped molecules. Stretch them to a certain length, and they reflect one color, stretch them out more, and they reflect yet another, and so on. Put enough of the molecules together on a billboard-size surface and you can make them look like anything you want, change them as often as you need -- even animate them. The ink molecules are contained in a layer only five microns thick, so to the naked eye, magink images appear as if on paper, rather than a TV screen."     

These new outdoor advertising technologies will only make it more difficult to fight this $23 billion-a-year industry.  To say this is a David vs. Goliath situation would be an understatement of epic proportions.  The profit margins on these new billboards dwarf anything the staid old wooden billboards could offer the industry, and it will only make them more eager to expand their presence at the expense of average citizens and their communities.         

If you've got any doubt about the intentions of the industry, just read this recent quote from Mark Mays, CEO of Clear Channel Outdoor: "It is a medium that's unavoidable. The only way to TiVo an outdoor sign is to push the accelerator and go by a little faster. And in today's market, advertisers are looking for a way to break through the clutter, to be inescapable."

While the industry will continue to try to keep you from escaping their grasp, we will continue to fight for the rights of citizens to enjoy their environment and communities without the bold intrusion of unwanted advertising and other visual blight.  It's an uphill battle, but history has shown that we have public opinion, and the courts, on our side.  Stay tuned.

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There is growing interest in utilizing wind energy in Michigan.  This interest is primarily the result of increasing costs of electrical energy to Michigan’s commercial users and a desire by many to become more energy self sufficient.  There has also been improvement in the technology of wind driven electric generators.

The Michigan State University wind energy project has provided a copy of the Michigan Wind Map for Scenic Michigan members.  One can quickly see the potential for wind energy on most of Michigan’s great lake shoreline and most of the lower half of our lower peninsula.  Combined, this is a substantial portion of the state and represents great potential for both commercial and agricultural application.

Scenic Michigan’s primary concern is the impact of wind machines on Michigan’s scenic resources.  Our response to this concern is the establishment of wind energy policy and guidelines for local communities to consider in the establishment of appropriate local ordinances. 

Nevada’s LAST CHANCE Scenic Places

Scenic Nevada has received 13 state-wide nominations for their Nevada LAST CHANCE Scenic Places program. This program is underwritten by the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust.

Teams of Scenic Nevada’s Executive Board and Board of Directors are visiting the nominations on orientation visits during September to familiarize themselves with each one of the nominations in order to determine if more supporting data is needed and the validity of the entry in meeting our criteria.

A blue ribbon advisory board will review all nominations for Nevada’s LAST CHANCE Scenic Places and the announcement of the selections/nominations will be made on Nevada Day, October 28, 2006. A booklet/brochure will be printed and distributed to Nevada’s congressional delegation, Nevada legislators, county commissioners, city councils, chambers of commerce, planning departments, environmentalists, preservationists and libraries by December 1, 2006.

SCENIC AMERICA
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