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For Immediate Release
January 11, 2008
Contact:
Jo Johnson, River Runners for Wilderness 303-443-1806
Marc Ross, Rock the Earth 303-454-3304
John Weisheit, Living Rivers 435-259-1063
George Nickas, Wilderness Watch 406-542-2048
GROUPS APPEAL RULING ON COLORADO
RIVER MANAGEMENT ON
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAND CANYON PROTECTION
Four conservation groups filed an appeal today from the U.S. District Court in Arizona to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as part of their on-going effort to protect and restore the Grand Canyon's natural sounds and wilderness values from a steady increase in motorized and commercial uses.
The groups, which include River Runners for Wilderness, Rock the Earth, Living Rivers and Wilderness Watch, claim the National Park Service's new management plan for the Colorado River corridor which authorizes motorboat use and helicopter passenger exchanges in the heart of the Grand Canyon is inconsistent with National Park Service obligations to preserve the area's wilderness character.
The groups challenged the National Park Service's management plan in Federal District Court in 2006, claiming that the Park's own policies require managing the canyon as wilderness. They also claimed that the National Park Service illegally granted the majority of river access to commercial concessionaires thereby forcing members of the general public to wait years for a chance to obtain a permit to float the Colorado River.
In November 2007, U.S. District Court Judge David G. Campbell upheld the National Park Service's new river management plan. Intervening in the case on the side of the Park Service were the Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association and the Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association.
The groups' appeal comes on the 100th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt's declaring the Grand Canyon a National Monument.
One hundred years ago, President Roosevelt noted "We have gotten past the stage, my fellow-citizens, when we are to be pardoned if we treat any part of our country as something to be skinned for two or three years for the use of the present generation, whether it is the forest, the water, the scenery. Whatever it is, handle it so that your children's children will get the benefit of it."
George Nickas, executive director of Wilderness Watch, builds on that commitment to protection. "No doubt Teddy Roosevelt would be appalled if he were here today and saw how the park service has commercialized the Grand Canyon and allowed the song of the canyon wren to be drowned by the racket of outboard motors."
"Notably, when first proposed, President Roosevelt was forced to strongly defend his Grand Canyon proclamation against repeated opposition in the courts" stated Tom Martin, Co-Director of River Runners for Wilderness. "One hundred years later, we are in a similar fight and likewise determined to win the best possible protection for Grand Canyon's Colorado River" added Martin.
"What's at stake is incredibly important to all Americans. Not only is public access to our public spaces, without the need to pay concessionaires thousands of dollars, at issue," noted Marc Ross, Executive Director of Rock the Earth, "but also the idea that there needs to be places where one can go in this country to seek peace and solitude without hearing the roar of engines."
The groups are represented by Julia Olson of Wild Earth Advocates and Matthew Bishop of the Western Environmental Law Center.
January 11, 2008
Contact:
Jo Johnson, River Runners for Wilderness 303-443-1806
Marc Ross, Rock the Earth 303-454-3304
John Weisheit, Living Rivers 435-259-1063
George Nickas, Wilderness Watch 406-542-2048
GROUPS APPEAL RULING ON COLORADO
RIVER MANAGEMENT ON
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAND CANYON PROTECTION
Four conservation groups filed an appeal today from the U.S. District Court in Arizona to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals as part of their on-going effort to protect and restore the Grand Canyon's natural sounds and wilderness values from a steady increase in motorized and commercial uses.
The groups, which include River Runners for Wilderness, Rock the Earth, Living Rivers and Wilderness Watch, claim the National Park Service's new management plan for the Colorado River corridor which authorizes motorboat use and helicopter passenger exchanges in the heart of the Grand Canyon is inconsistent with National Park Service obligations to preserve the area's wilderness character.
The groups challenged the National Park Service's management plan in Federal District Court in 2006, claiming that the Park's own policies require managing the canyon as wilderness. They also claimed that the National Park Service illegally granted the majority of river access to commercial concessionaires thereby forcing members of the general public to wait years for a chance to obtain a permit to float the Colorado River.
In November 2007, U.S. District Court Judge David G. Campbell upheld the National Park Service's new river management plan. Intervening in the case on the side of the Park Service were the Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association and the Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association.
The groups' appeal comes on the 100th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt's declaring the Grand Canyon a National Monument.
One hundred years ago, President Roosevelt noted "We have gotten past the stage, my fellow-citizens, when we are to be pardoned if we treat any part of our country as something to be skinned for two or three years for the use of the present generation, whether it is the forest, the water, the scenery. Whatever it is, handle it so that your children's children will get the benefit of it."
George Nickas, executive director of Wilderness Watch, builds on that commitment to protection. "No doubt Teddy Roosevelt would be appalled if he were here today and saw how the park service has commercialized the Grand Canyon and allowed the song of the canyon wren to be drowned by the racket of outboard motors."
"Notably, when first proposed, President Roosevelt was forced to strongly defend his Grand Canyon proclamation against repeated opposition in the courts" stated Tom Martin, Co-Director of River Runners for Wilderness. "One hundred years later, we are in a similar fight and likewise determined to win the best possible protection for Grand Canyon's Colorado River" added Martin.
"What's at stake is incredibly important to all Americans. Not only is public access to our public spaces, without the need to pay concessionaires thousands of dollars, at issue," noted Marc Ross, Executive Director of Rock the Earth, "but also the idea that there needs to be places where one can go in this country to seek peace and solitude without hearing the roar of engines."
The groups are represented by Julia Olson of Wild Earth Advocates and Matthew Bishop of the Western Environmental Law Center.
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