"Nobody is planning on eliminating the paleo program," she added. But with budget constraints, Dinosaur National Monument needs to "get the work done somewhere else."

Asked when the changes will happen, she said it won't be before "we are able to offer them other opportunities. There are a couple of options for these folks."

For example, they may be able to find the same jobs at the same pay levels at another park. Or there could be job training.

"This is happening all over the region," Risser added.

The National Park Service has used this approach with other types of resource management and it has been successful, she said. Still, Risser conceded, "It's an emotional issue because some of the people who are involved have been here for a long time.

"But as a manager you have to sit back and address what's the best approach for the limited money we have."

A new visitor center is expected to be built at a cost of about $8 million to $10 million. But this expense has no impact on the personnel budget, the superintendent said. "That comes out of a different pot" of money, she said. The construction comes from a line-item construction budget.

Preparations for the new center are proceeding, she said. Draft and final environmental impact statements were completed, and "we have money to start moving forward with the design."

That could be finished in a year.

Meanwhile, a dinosaur curatorial facility is to be built in downtown Vernal, in a partnership among the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation, the national monument, the city of Vernal and Uintah County.

---

E-mail: bau@desnews.com