Posted on 11/30/2005 8:07:03 PM PST by Rebelbase
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 29, 2005
Conservation Groups File Lawsuit to Protect National Parks From Harmful Off-Road Vehicle Use: Survey of Parks Reveals Extensive Damage from Off-Road Vehicles, Lack of Funding for Enforcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bluewater Network, a division of Friends of the Earth; the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA); and Wildlands CPR today filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service and theDepartment of Interior in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleging that those agencies have failed in numerous ways to protect the National Park System against the extensive damage caused by all-terrain vehicles and other off-road vehicles in America's national parks.
The plaintiffs met with the Park Service in July 2004 and raised concerns about off-road vehicle damage in the national parks. The agency responded by conducting an internal survey of all national park sites. The 256 responses available to the plaintiffs demonstrate that off-road vehicles are causing widespread damage in America's national parks.
"Despite evidence of damage, the leadership of the National Park Service is simply proposing more studies of the problems caused by off-road vehicles in some parts of the National Park System and has refused to take any action elsewhere," said Carl Schneebeck, public lands campaign director for Bluewater Network and a former Park Service ranger.
Park managers reported that off-road vehicle use is harming archaeological sites at the Grand Canyon; tearing up hiking/horseback trails at Olympic National Park; crushing animal burrows in Arches and Canyonlands national parks; and facilitating fossil poaching at Badlands National Park, as well as affecting the experiences of other visitors. Park managers at the Appalachian Trail reported that damage from off-road vehicles is the trail's "most pernicious" problem.
"Because of the damage off-road vehicles can cause to the natural wonders of the parks, the law expressly requires the agency to regulate the use of off-road vehicles," said Robert Rosenbaum of Washington, D.C., law firm Arnold & Porter LLP, counsel for the plaintiffs.
In the Park Service's survey, many park managers reported having insufficient staff to monitor the impact of off-road vehicles on the parks and enforce park regulations.
"Due to lack of funding, many parks are struggling to enforce the rules on the books to protect the treasures in our parks and the safety and experiences of visitors," said NPCA President Tom Kiernan. "In the meantime, the parks protecting our national heritage are being spoiled."
Exacerbating this problem, the Department of Interior has proposed a draft revision of the parks' management policies. The draft weakens protections for parks and could lead to increased use of off-road vehicles. The public can comment on the proposed changes to the Park Service's management policies over the next few months.
"National parks were created 100 years ago as preserves for our national heritage-not as playgrounds for off-road vehicles," said Wildlands CPR Executive Director Bethanie Walder. "The existing policies to protect our parks must be upheld and enforced."
Speculation from access groups is that Friends of the Earth will seek an injuction against all off road vehicle use in National Parks.
That will be the beginning. National Forests and Seashores to follow.
BUT WHAT IF A WOMAN'S HEALTH IS IN DANGER??? THERE'S NO PROVISION FOR THAT!
That's what it's really all about.
I suppose that you and the eco-nuts will pay for the costs of increased enforcement?
Incrementalism.
Forests were meant to be accessed not locked up.
The National Forests belong to all of us. This suit, like others of its ilk, wants to limit forest visitors to only young, able-bodied, people with the free time to go on hiking trips. Disguised as an "environmental" issue, this is just a way to lock up our forests to everyone the elitists don't care for.
RS 2477 Rights-of-way
SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT RS 2477 RIGHTS-OF-WAY?
ASK YOURSELF...
Do you enjoy hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, birding, off-road vehicle use, wildlife, mountain biking, backpacking, nature photography, horseback riding, rock hounding, climbing, or any other recreational use of the public lands?
IF YOUR ANSWER IS "YES,"
AND JUST WHAT ARE RS 2477 RIGHTS?
http://www.rs2477roads.com/
Best Wishes.
The Blue Ribbon Coalition are good folks.
http://www.sharetrails.org/
Parks, forests, seashores, whatever. The truth is there are already laws on the books against destruction of public property, vandalism, and other such offenses. The aim of most of these latter-day suits, infortunately, is simply to cut off access to everyone but hearty Birkenstockers.
This Park was created and is now administered for the benefit and enjoyment of the people...it is the property of Uncle Sam and therefore of us all."
President Theodore Roosevelt
April 24, 1903 at Gardiner, Montana
Speech dedicating the North Entrance Arch
http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/arch.htm
On the west tower is carved: "Created by Act of Congress, March 1, 1872"
President Theodore Roosevelt was already in the park on vacation when asked to lay the cornerstone
Looks like that was a lot of fun!
Does that include humans? How about bikes? "No damage" can be construed in many ways. How about we keep the National Parks employees out? Especially if they carry matches.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
