NPS Projected Returns from Concessioners

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the assumptions that the National Park Service (NPS) used to project future financial returns from concessioners through 2002. GAO noted that NPS: (1) probably over estimated future returns under the Concessions Policy Act by assuming it could increase franchise fees as contracts expired and that franchise fees and monies in special accounts would remain in the same proportions; (2) Correctly assumed that H.R. 773 and S. 309 would increase competition, but its assumption tha it could simultaneously gradually extinguish concessioners' possessory interest and increase franchise fees was not reasonable; and (3) underestimated future returns under H.R. 2491 by assuming that the bill's performance incentive would impede competition.