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Updated! How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
Updated! How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
http://stjohnsource.com/content/news/lo ... rks-courts
Looming Government Shutdown Will Impact V.I. from Parks to Courts
Monday was a cliffhanger for staff at federal agencies across the territory as they tried to prepare for a federal government shutdown.
Angeline Muckle-Jabbar, a senior policy advisor at Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen’s office, said the federal government employs 695 people, not including U.S. Postal Service workers, across the territory. If a shutdown happens, as appears likely, the impacts will be felt across the Virgin Islands.
“The park closes, and 46 employees will be furloughed,” V.I. National Park Superintendent Brion FitzGerald said, including himself on the list of those who won’t work until Congress hammers out some sort of agreement.
While St. John park personnel were still figuring out Monday morning how they would block entrances to the park’s beach parking lots, FitzGerald said they definitely would be closed. He said sawhorses and signs are the most probable, but the park staff was checking to see what it has on hand to block the entrances.
Should people decide to go for a swim despite the closure, FitzGerald said the enforcement rangers who will remain on the job will ask them to leave.
FitzGerald said no concession operations such as weddings and boat trips will be allowed to operate within the park. Annaberg Plantation will close, and the children’s playground next to the Visitor Center as well as the Visitor Center will be closed.
According to FitzGerald, the park will keep people off its property because if people got injured while visiting a beach or other facility while the park was closed, the park would be liable.
The North Shore Road will remain open because it’s a public road.
FitzGerald said in addition to the enforcement rangers, one person will remain on the job to operate the water system and wastewater treatment plant, and Deputy Superintendent Mike Anderson will stay to be the point of contact for the park.
On the plus side, he said that unlike some stateside parks, which are at the height of the fall leaf peeping season, the St. John park is at its slowest time of the year. Caneel Bay Resort and Cinnamon Bay Campground, which both sit on park land, are closed for the very slow season.
On St. Croix, Joel Tutein, who serves as superintendent for all three national park facilities, said Fort Christiansvaern and the Steeple Building in Christiansted National Historic Site will close by Wednesday should a federal government shutdown happen. However, he said Buck Island Reef National Monument, which sits off shore and has no visitor center, will remain open and privately-operated boat charters will be able to make trips. However, he said the park will not do any of its tours.
The visitor center at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is closed for the season and will remain closed if a shutdown occurs. Tutein said the nearby beach is owned by the local government and will remain open.
He said 20 people work at park service facilities on St. Croix. If the shutdown happens, law enforcement rangers, a person to operate the facility and an administrative person will remain on the job. Tutein won’t be on the job.
“I’m first on the list,” he said.
Across the territory, federal agencies were preparing Monday for a shutdown they hope won’t happen.
“It’s put a strain on us,” Keshema Webbe, a life scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on St. Thomas, said.
The agency canceled meetings planned for the rest of the week because of the uncertainty. Webbe said organizing them was complicated because they involved multiple agencies.
EPA has two employees on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix. She said they received instructions that if the shutdown happens, they’re to report Tuesday to their jobs for four hours to shut down operations and fill out their furlough papers. Webbe said furlough usually means they don’t get paid, but she’s not sure what will happen this go round.
Not all federal agencies will be forced to close. Post offices would remain open because they are self-funded, nationally published reports indicated. No one from the U.S. Postal Service on St. Thomas returned a phone call requesting information.
It will be business as usual at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix and the territory’s seaports.
“It doesn’t affect essential services,” V.I. Port Authority spokesman Monifa Marrero said, noting that the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to operate.
A request for information from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection both got kicked up the line to the White House Office of Management and Budget, which did not respond.
As for the U.S. Coast Guard facilities on St. Thomas and St. Croix, the staff will still be on duty.
“It does not impact military personnel,” Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said, adding that he will stay home because he’s a civilian employee.
At U.S. District Court on St. Thomas, attorney Glenda L. Lake, who serves as clerk of the court, said the agency has a 10-day window in which to operate using currently available funds.
“In 10 days, they’ll reassess,” she said.
She said the Federal Building will be open so District Court staff can work.
Edgar Hernandez, director of the Caribbean Service Center for the General Services Administration, said from Puerto Rico that Federal Buildings will remain open.
U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharp will continue to work, spokesman Kim Chisholm said. As for the rest of the attorneys and staff, Chisholm referred questions to a document that came from department higher ups. It said “excepted employees are needed to address ongoing criminal matters and civil matters of urgency throughout the Nation. Criminal litigation will continue without interruption as an activity essential to the safety of human life and the protection of property. Civil litigation will be curtailed or postponed to the extent this can be done without compromising to a significant degree the safety of human life or the protection of property.”
Published reports indicated that Medicare and Social Security payments would continue but there might be delays.
There are many unanswered questions. Tutein said his staff has asked about what happens to their health insurance. Britt Weinstock, who handles those matters at Christensen’s office, emailed that “the impact of any possible shutdown on federal employees’ health insurance is contingent upon the content (in terms of add-ons) in any legislative package.” Those terms won’t be known until Congress deals with the matter.
And will they ever get paid for time off from work? Tutein said that in past shutdowns, Congress approved the budget retroactively, but he said it remains unknown if people will “be made whole” this time round.
“It’s going to be interesting,” he said.
Looming Government Shutdown Will Impact V.I. from Parks to Courts
Monday was a cliffhanger for staff at federal agencies across the territory as they tried to prepare for a federal government shutdown.
Angeline Muckle-Jabbar, a senior policy advisor at Delegate to Congress Donna M. Christensen’s office, said the federal government employs 695 people, not including U.S. Postal Service workers, across the territory. If a shutdown happens, as appears likely, the impacts will be felt across the Virgin Islands.
“The park closes, and 46 employees will be furloughed,” V.I. National Park Superintendent Brion FitzGerald said, including himself on the list of those who won’t work until Congress hammers out some sort of agreement.
While St. John park personnel were still figuring out Monday morning how they would block entrances to the park’s beach parking lots, FitzGerald said they definitely would be closed. He said sawhorses and signs are the most probable, but the park staff was checking to see what it has on hand to block the entrances.
Should people decide to go for a swim despite the closure, FitzGerald said the enforcement rangers who will remain on the job will ask them to leave.
FitzGerald said no concession operations such as weddings and boat trips will be allowed to operate within the park. Annaberg Plantation will close, and the children’s playground next to the Visitor Center as well as the Visitor Center will be closed.
According to FitzGerald, the park will keep people off its property because if people got injured while visiting a beach or other facility while the park was closed, the park would be liable.
The North Shore Road will remain open because it’s a public road.
FitzGerald said in addition to the enforcement rangers, one person will remain on the job to operate the water system and wastewater treatment plant, and Deputy Superintendent Mike Anderson will stay to be the point of contact for the park.
On the plus side, he said that unlike some stateside parks, which are at the height of the fall leaf peeping season, the St. John park is at its slowest time of the year. Caneel Bay Resort and Cinnamon Bay Campground, which both sit on park land, are closed for the very slow season.
On St. Croix, Joel Tutein, who serves as superintendent for all three national park facilities, said Fort Christiansvaern and the Steeple Building in Christiansted National Historic Site will close by Wednesday should a federal government shutdown happen. However, he said Buck Island Reef National Monument, which sits off shore and has no visitor center, will remain open and privately-operated boat charters will be able to make trips. However, he said the park will not do any of its tours.
The visitor center at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is closed for the season and will remain closed if a shutdown occurs. Tutein said the nearby beach is owned by the local government and will remain open.
He said 20 people work at park service facilities on St. Croix. If the shutdown happens, law enforcement rangers, a person to operate the facility and an administrative person will remain on the job. Tutein won’t be on the job.
“I’m first on the list,” he said.
Across the territory, federal agencies were preparing Monday for a shutdown they hope won’t happen.
“It’s put a strain on us,” Keshema Webbe, a life scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on St. Thomas, said.
The agency canceled meetings planned for the rest of the week because of the uncertainty. Webbe said organizing them was complicated because they involved multiple agencies.
EPA has two employees on St. Thomas and one on St. Croix. She said they received instructions that if the shutdown happens, they’re to report Tuesday to their jobs for four hours to shut down operations and fill out their furlough papers. Webbe said furlough usually means they don’t get paid, but she’s not sure what will happen this go round.
Not all federal agencies will be forced to close. Post offices would remain open because they are self-funded, nationally published reports indicated. No one from the U.S. Postal Service on St. Thomas returned a phone call requesting information.
It will be business as usual at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix and the territory’s seaports.
“It doesn’t affect essential services,” V.I. Port Authority spokesman Monifa Marrero said, noting that the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to operate.
A request for information from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection both got kicked up the line to the White House Office of Management and Budget, which did not respond.
As for the U.S. Coast Guard facilities on St. Thomas and St. Croix, the staff will still be on duty.
“It does not impact military personnel,” Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad said, adding that he will stay home because he’s a civilian employee.
At U.S. District Court on St. Thomas, attorney Glenda L. Lake, who serves as clerk of the court, said the agency has a 10-day window in which to operate using currently available funds.
“In 10 days, they’ll reassess,” she said.
She said the Federal Building will be open so District Court staff can work.
Edgar Hernandez, director of the Caribbean Service Center for the General Services Administration, said from Puerto Rico that Federal Buildings will remain open.
U.S. Attorney Ronald Sharp will continue to work, spokesman Kim Chisholm said. As for the rest of the attorneys and staff, Chisholm referred questions to a document that came from department higher ups. It said “excepted employees are needed to address ongoing criminal matters and civil matters of urgency throughout the Nation. Criminal litigation will continue without interruption as an activity essential to the safety of human life and the protection of property. Civil litigation will be curtailed or postponed to the extent this can be done without compromising to a significant degree the safety of human life or the protection of property.”
Published reports indicated that Medicare and Social Security payments would continue but there might be delays.
There are many unanswered questions. Tutein said his staff has asked about what happens to their health insurance. Britt Weinstock, who handles those matters at Christensen’s office, emailed that “the impact of any possible shutdown on federal employees’ health insurance is contingent upon the content (in terms of add-ons) in any legislative package.” Those terms won’t be known until Congress deals with the matter.
And will they ever get paid for time off from work? Tutein said that in past shutdowns, Congress approved the budget retroactively, but he said it remains unknown if people will “be made whole” this time round.
“It’s going to be interesting,” he said.
Last edited by lprof on Tue Oct 01, 2013 12:51 pm, edited 2 times in total.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
I am here now so what does this mean to me? I am in vacation mode and can't think too hard! Aren't there beaches outside the NP?
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
Hi Mary Beth,
Try heading over to the East End. Vie's beach/Hansen Bay are not in the park. On the south shore, you could try and go to Klein Bay (extremely limited parking) or Chocolate Hole. Frank Bay is also not in the park.
Sorry this is impacting your vacation. John and I were originally heading to Cape Cod National Seashore this weekend but cancelled this morning because the access points for the hiking trails have been closed by the Park Service. Hopefully this situation will be resolved soon.
Try heading over to the East End. Vie's beach/Hansen Bay are not in the park. On the south shore, you could try and go to Klein Bay (extremely limited parking) or Chocolate Hole. Frank Bay is also not in the park.
Sorry this is impacting your vacation. John and I were originally heading to Cape Cod National Seashore this weekend but cancelled this morning because the access points for the hiking trails have been closed by the Park Service. Hopefully this situation will be resolved soon.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
I would think you would be able to get down to Gibney as well.
We didn't discover Vie's until two trips ago. It is worth the drive.
Please report back on what you see as it relates to beach closures. Considering the NPS can't keep the trash cans empty, I can't imagine they could truly prevent beach access.
Wouldn't Cinnamon, being that it is managed by Rosewood, remain open? Or is it closed for the season?
We didn't discover Vie's until two trips ago. It is worth the drive.
Please report back on what you see as it relates to beach closures. Considering the NPS can't keep the trash cans empty, I can't imagine they could truly prevent beach access.
Wouldn't Cinnamon, being that it is managed by Rosewood, remain open? Or is it closed for the season?
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
Cinnamon is closed for the season.PA Girl wrote:I would think you would be able to get down to Gibney as well.
We didn't discover Vie's until two trips ago. It is worth the drive.
Please report back on what you see as it relates to beach closures. Considering the NPS can't keep the trash cans empty, I can't imagine they could truly prevent beach access.
Wouldn't Cinnamon, being that it is managed by Rosewood, remain open? Or is it closed for the season?
I believe Vie's may be closed for the season as well; I have no idea whether the honor box and gate are open.
http://www.hansenbaycampground.com/snack-shack
The main pool area at the Westin is closed for renovations.
http://www.westinresortstjohn.com/renovation
... no longer a stranger to paradise
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
I'd love to see if they have blocked access to the VINP beaches? I wonder if the NP moorings are still taking money?
Cheers, RickG
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
UPDATE: Sorry folks I was wrong in my post. You are not allowed to approach the beaches from the water. You can pass through the waters but can not anchor or more.
I have always been told that all the beaches are open to the public. However, you need to get the permission of land owner to cross their property to get to the beach. You can get to the beach by boat but not crossing NPS property.
I have always been told that all the beaches are open to the public. However, you need to get the permission of land owner to cross their property to get to the beach. You can get to the beach by boat but not crossing NPS property.
Last edited by iheartsj on Tue Oct 01, 2013 10:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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ArkieLovesSTJ
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Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
I find this part of the story incredibly ridiculous, "According to FitzGerald, the park will keep people off its property because if people got injured while visiting a beach or other facility while the park was closed, the park would be liable." We have been to the majority of the beaches on STJ and other than someone collecting trash, we have only seen one National Park employee anywhere other than at Trunk Bay and at the National Park Building in downtown Cruz Bay.
Wouldn’t the park system be “just as liable” for an injury at the beach or at another facility that happened last week as something that happened today???
I hope all this gets resolved before we get there next Tuesday...
Wouldn’t the park system be “just as liable” for an injury at the beach or at another facility that happened last week as something that happened today???
I hope all this gets resolved before we get there next Tuesday...
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
My husband just returned from walking our dogs - the road to Annaberg has been barricaded and the trail closed. He walked to Maho where the parking area was still open but apparently all parking will be closed and park "police" will be preventing people from going on to all National Park Beaches due to the fact that if an accident were to occur (such as a drowning, heart attack etc) there are no emergency personnel available to respond. All this was reported yesterday in the paper - we will have to wait and see. I might try to swim Maho later today but they do not want anyone in park waters.
Pia
Pia
Realtor - St John Properties
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
Don't forget the National Park is just not the sand it extends into the water.
Pia
Pia
Realtor - St John Properties
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
"but they do not want anyone in park waters".
That is really over the top... the only beach with lifeguards is Trunk, and it has always been perfectly legit to swim there there before or after they are on duty. For what is left of their non-furloughed ranger staff to spend their time making people leave the water there, let alone at beaches that never had any water safety staff, is utterly, uhh, (weighing post-able adjectives here) "ridiculous"!
Not the best,
Kevin
That is really over the top... the only beach with lifeguards is Trunk, and it has always been perfectly legit to swim there there before or after they are on duty. For what is left of their non-furloughed ranger staff to spend their time making people leave the water there, let alone at beaches that never had any water safety staff, is utterly, uhh, (weighing post-able adjectives here) "ridiculous"!
Not the best,
Kevin
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
This is just terrible timing for us. I really hope they resolve this sooner rather then later. 
Re: How does the government shutdown affect the parks?
From News of St John:
"12 p.m. Update: We just got off the phone with Mike Anderson, NPS Deputy Superintendent. He said that NPS has gone ahead and closed the park per direction from the federal government. He said signs were put up and barricades installed. Because the National Park extends out into the water, all beaches from Lindt Point to Haulover Bay are closed. Additionally on the South Shore, Salt Pond, the Lameshures and Reef Bay is closed. All park trails are also closed.
“No one is happy about this, including our staff,” he said.
Anderson said 46 park employees have been furloughed including Park Superintendent Brion FitzGerald. Anderson will remain working as the park coordinator during the shutdown.
Regarding the water, vessels are allowed to pass through the park waters, but they cannot anchor or tie up to any of the moorings. In additional, all commercial activity is suspended including guided tours, and snorkeling or scuba tours. Boat operators can, however, pick up guests in St. John but they must travel to the BVIs.
If anyone is found to be on NSP land or in NPS waters, they will be asked to leave by park enforcement rangers who will remain working. If they do not leave at that time, they will receive a citation."
Click on http://www.newsofstjohn.com to see the VI National Park beaches map.
"12 p.m. Update: We just got off the phone with Mike Anderson, NPS Deputy Superintendent. He said that NPS has gone ahead and closed the park per direction from the federal government. He said signs were put up and barricades installed. Because the National Park extends out into the water, all beaches from Lindt Point to Haulover Bay are closed. Additionally on the South Shore, Salt Pond, the Lameshures and Reef Bay is closed. All park trails are also closed.
“No one is happy about this, including our staff,” he said.
Anderson said 46 park employees have been furloughed including Park Superintendent Brion FitzGerald. Anderson will remain working as the park coordinator during the shutdown.
Regarding the water, vessels are allowed to pass through the park waters, but they cannot anchor or tie up to any of the moorings. In additional, all commercial activity is suspended including guided tours, and snorkeling or scuba tours. Boat operators can, however, pick up guests in St. John but they must travel to the BVIs.
If anyone is found to be on NSP land or in NPS waters, they will be asked to leave by park enforcement rangers who will remain working. If they do not leave at that time, they will receive a citation."
Click on http://www.newsofstjohn.com to see the VI National Park beaches map.
... no longer a stranger to paradise
Re: Updated! How does the government shutdown affect the par
Just back from Maho. It was lovely this morning. There was yellow police tape around the picnic area. Driving back North Shore the beaches were barricaded but there was also a good amount of civil disobedience going on. Moving a barricade every so slightly, etc. there were about 8 cars at Trunk. There were no signs of anyone telling anyone to leave but I guess that is subject to change.
Re: Updated! How does the government shutdown affect the par
Does anyone know if this will affect the Inter Island Ferry Service at all?