[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          RESCUE COST ANALYSIS

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
executive summary and recommendations of the following August 2001 
Report to Congress titled: ``Analysis of Cost Recovery for High-
altitude Rescues on Mt. McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve, 
Alaska'' be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

Executive Summary--Analysis of Cost Recovery for High-Altitude Rescues 
  on Mt. McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, August, 
                                  2001


                              Introduction

       The following report addresses the requirements of Public 
     Law 106-486 enacted November 9, 2000, directing the National 
     Park Service to complete a mountain climber rescue cost 
     recovery study by August 9, 2001. This report describes the 
     role of the National Park Service and Denali National Park 
     and Preserve (DNP&P) in search and rescue activities and 
     analyzes the suitability and feasibility of recovering the 
     costs of high-altitude rescues on Mt. McKinley. It addresses 
     the three items required in the legislation.
       (1) Recovering the costs of rescues on Mt. McKinley.
       (2) Requiring climbers to provide proof of medical 
     insurance before the issuance of a climbing permit.
       (3) Charging for a climbing permit and changing the fee 
     structure. This report was prepared with existing funds.
       A variety of organizations and individuals were involved in 
     the development of this report. They included: the National 
     Park Service, Alaska Regional Office and Washington Office; 
     American Alpine Club; 210th Alaska Air National Guard; U.S. 
     Army at Fort Wainwright; Mountain Guide Concessionaires; 
     Access Fund; Alaska Mountain Rescue Association; Alaska State 
     SAR Coordinator; Providence, Valley, and Alaska Regional 
     Hospitals; Mountain Rescue Association; and the Alaska 
     Mountaineering Club.


                            Recommendations

       After a thorough analysis of the suitability and 
     feasibility of cost recovery, this report recommends the 
     following:
     Part One: The Suitability and Feasibility of Rescue Cost 
         Recovery
       1. Based on the relationship of DNP&P to the national 
     program for National Park Service search and rescue, the 
     relationship to the practices of other agencies, the 
     practices of the military, and the practices of the State of 
     Alaska, the Park Service recommends that the current policy 
     of not charging for search and rescue be continued. If the 
     other federal agencies and the military develop a policy for 
     the collection of search and rescue costs from participants 
     in high risk activities, the National Park Service should 
     also participate. This would best be done through the passage 
     of legislation that applies to all federal agencies and 
     branches of the military that currently rescue members of the 
     public in need.
       2. To reduce National Park Service costs related to 
     evacuation of injured climbers, the park will work with 
     Providence Hospital in Anchorage regarding additional 
     operation by the hospital of its Lifeguard helicopter to 
     transport injured climbers from the 7,200-foot base camp on 
     Mt. McKinley. Like most ambulance services, the hospital 
     bills the patient directly for the service. This would reduce 
     the use of military and NPS helicopters for a service that 
     can be provided by a private entity.
     Part Two: Suitability and Feasibility of Requiring Proof of 
         Medical Insurance
       1. The review of incidents shows no information indicating 
     a problem of any magnitude. DNP&P, therefore, recommends not 
     requiring proof of medical insurance at this time. DNP&P will 
     continue to monitor with the hospitals and work with 
     insurance companies to determine if a need exists in the 
     future to require proof of insurance. If proof of medical 
     insurance were to be made a new requirement, it would be best 
     to set the precedent consistent across agencies and different 
     types of high-risk activities.
       2. DNP&P will encourage climbers to carry medical insurance 
     and will provide information with registration packets and 
     pre-climb briefings about access to providers specializing in 
     climbing insurance.
     Part Three: Climber Registration Fee Review
       1. In order to help recover costs for the human waste 
     management studies, an additional $50.00 fee should be added 
     to the current $150.00 climber registration fee. The total 
     fee for climbing Mt. McKinley or Mt. Foraker would then be 
     $200.00.
       2. Currently, only climbers of Mt. McKinley and Mt. Foraker 
     are required to register. Initiate required registration for 
     all other climbers in DNP&P. This would help ensure all 
     climbers receive safety and waste management information.

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