Utah Gov. Gary Herbert today formally requested President Obama re-open the state’s five national parks, national monuments, and other recreation areas.
In his letter to the president, Herbert says the shutdown is hurting individuals and businesses that rely on tourism for their livelihood.
If the President won’t free up federal funds to maintain and operate Utah’s national parks and monuments, Herbert says he’ll ask him to authorize Utah to use state and private funds to re-open them to the public.
The governor’s office says October is a peak month for tourism in many parts of the state. It’s estimated the economic impact of the federal government shutdown on the state is approximately $100 million.