Government shutdown has local impact

WORLAND – Many federal employees and employees of agencies which reside in federally owned buildings came to work Monday morning to commence shutdown activities and receive their furlough papers. Federal agencies across the Big Horn Basin were not answering their phones stating in the outgoing message that because of the lapse in federal appropriations, there was no one to take calls and that no calls would be returned until the shutdown ended.

Thankfully for all those affected, the shutdown may be short lived with Congress attempting to rectify the situation Monday but until then many people will be off work and many others deprived of federal assistance or offerings.

Washakie County Conservation District Director Victoria Dietz stated that although it is not a federally funded agency it resides in a federally owned building meaning that the conservation district would not be able to work from their office at 208 Shiloh Road in Worland, which also houses the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Service Center, but would have to work from home.

Unfortunately other federal agencies did not have that luxury. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)and the National Park Service employees with the exception of choice personnel such as law enforcement and emergency services which if shutdown could threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property, found themselves with unscheduled time off and concern for the future.

The National Park Service stated in a press release that Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area would remain as accessible as possible. Parks roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials would remain open to visitors but emergency and rescue services would be limited. That there would be no visitor services, including public information, restrooms, trash collection, facilities and road maintenance, which included plowing. Social media and websites will also not be maintained during the shutdown.

Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park will also be open and anyone visiting is reminded that there will not be any visitor's services and emergency service will be limited.

Worland BLM had a sign on their office door stating, "Important notice to public land visitors. While this area [public lands] is accessible to the public during the lapse in federal appropriations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is unable to fully staff the properties under its management. It is not feasible to close or otherwise prohibit all access to BLM properties. Visitors are advised to use extreme caution if choosing to enter BLM managed lands, as BLM personnel will not be available to provide guidance, assistance, maintenance or emergency response. Any entry onto BLM public lands during this period of federal government shutdown is at the visitor's sole risk.

The BLM will not operate fee areas during the shutdown period and no visitor services will be provided. The BLM will not issue permits, conduct educational programs, collect trash, operate or provide restrooms, maintain roads or walkway (including plowing and ice melting) or provide visitor information.