FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, February 18, 1998
CONTACT:
D.J. Schubert or Howard Crystal, 202-588-5206
Andrea Lococo, 307-859-8840
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, The Fund for Animals, Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Ecology Center, and several individuals filed suit against the federal government for deciding not to close any snowmobile trails to grooming prior to the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement on winter use activities in two national parks. The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C., alleges that the government's decision violates several federal laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, as well as provisions of a settlement agreement from earlier litigation over winter use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
The settlement agreement required the National Park Service to propose closing one or more trails to winter use in order to gather data for analysis in the EIS. The proposal, issued in an Environmental Assessment published in November, called for closing the Fishing Bridge to Canyon trail segment this winter. Although this particular closure was specifically chosen by the Park Service, in issuing its decision the Park Service completely rejected both this and other alternatives designed to collect data on bison use of areas without groomed trails, preferring instead to permit all trails to continue to be groomed indefinitely. The plaintiffs claim that this decision to continue trail grooming is inconsistent with the settlement agreement, and is not scientifically defensible.
"This decision demonstrates that the Park Service is more interested in placating politicians and local business interests than in protecting Yellowstone's ecology and magnificent wildlife," states D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist with Meyer & Glitzenstein, who is representing the plaintiffs in this litigation. "The Park Service has wasted an opportunity to gather valuable scientific data to improve park management decisions in favor of continued snowmobile use and abuse of Yellowstone."
The plaintiffs contend that winter activities in the parks, particularly trail grooming to facilitate snowmobile use, has resulted in significant impacts on park wildlife, especially Yellowstone's bison, and park ecology. Despite these impacts, the Park Service has permitted trail grooming and snowmobiles for nearly thirty years without ever adequately evaluating the environmental impacts.
The lawsuit, filed as a related case to the previous litigation, will be heard by Judge Edward G. Sullivan. The complaint requests Judge Sullivan to declare the agency decision to be in violation of federal law, and to require a new decision regarding trail closures before the 1998-99 winter season.
For a copy of the 14-page complaint, please contact D.J. Schubert at 202-588-5206.