POCATELLO, ID (June 13)–The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) today strongly criticized a U.S. Forest Service proposal to exempt major ground disturbing activities from environmental analysis and public comment.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) today began accepting public comment on a proposed change in regulations that would allow certain activities, including road obliteration, to be exempt from any public comment or analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Here is the Court’s remedy order on the HSHA’s motion for injunctive relief and vacatur. It is narrowly drawn to the issue of balancing the need for commercial packers with the goals of the Wilderness Act. The judge refused to step onto the “slippery slope” of items “necessary” for a wilderness experience and also refused to micromanage the NPS on grazing above 9,700 feet. He accepted our amicus curiae brief.
Best line: “It is not appropriate for one group of park users to impose its vision of wilderness etiquette over others.” Page 8 at 7-8.
Overall, it is as good a ruling as we could have expected.
The pdf below is the court’s remedy order.
July 21-22, 2012. Arrival on the evening of July 20. The Tahoe Trail Skills College is a free, two-day event open to anyone with the desire to learn more about how to care for their local trails. Beginners and experts alike can benefit from the Trail Skills College and all are welcome to attend.
For More info and to sign up visit:
http://www.pcta.org/trail-skills-college/tahoe/information.php
