Group Hopes to Make Craters of the Moon a National Park

NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — A coalition in southern Idaho hopes to turn Craters of the Moon National Monument into Idaho's first national park.

Butte County commissioner Rose Bernal told KIVI-TV that getting the monument national park status could provide a much-needed boost to the struggling local economy and draw tourists already headed to Yellowstone. But opponents fear a switch could lead to land use limitations. Yellowstone National Park extends slightly into Idaho and Montana, but it's mostly in Wyoming.

Current National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis is the former superintendent for Craters of the Moon. Jarvis says people have been talking about trying to get national park status for decades. Idaho gets nearly $29 million in estimated annual economic benefits from its national historic sites and monuments including Craters of the Moon.