April 26, 2018
Sue Masica, Regional Director
Intermountain Region, National Park Service
12795 Alameda Parkway
Denver, CO 80225
Subject: Proposed Rule on Motor Vehicle Use, Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1024-AD93
Dear Ms. Masica:
We, the undersigned, are former or current employees of the National Park Service (NPS) and active members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition). With over 1,500 members, the Coalition collectively represents more than 35,000 years of national park management experience. We have devoted our careers to serving the American people and protecting the integrity and resources of America’s National Park System. We are writing to express our grave concerns over certain aspects of the proposed rule for off-road vehicle (ORV) management at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GLCA).
Many of our members have worked in parks that allow properly managed ORV use. We are well aware that GLCA has been out-of-compliance for many years with various ORV management requirements, including: Executive Order 11644, as amended by Executive Order 11989; and 36 CFR § 4.10 (b); and more recently NPS Management Policies 2006, § 8.2.3.1 Motorized Off-road Vehicle Use, which states, in part. “In accordance with the executive order, they [ORVs] may be allowed only in locations where there will be no adverse impacts (emphasis added) on the area’s natural, cultural, scenic, and esthetic values, and in consideration of other existing or proposed recreational use.”
We are also aware that NPS is required under the terms of a 2008 settlement agreement (Bluewater Network Division, et al. v. United States Department of the Interior, et al. Case 1:05-cv-02302-RCL) to prepare an ORV management plan and special regulation at GLCA, as well as at a number of other parks. For the most part, the other parks have prepared the required planning documents, and have implemented appropriate management controls that limit or reduce the extent of ORV access, reduce impacts, and improve operator and equipment safety requirements.
In contrast to the ORV management decisions made at other parks, the GLCA rule would significantly increase the kind, amount, and extent of motor vehicle use, particularly in remote portions of GLCA, by allowing non-street legal OHVs to use over 200 miles of park roads (the unpaved GMP roads). In effect, NPS is proposing to manage much of the park’s extensive system of roads as de facto ORV routes. We believe that such a policy is in contradiction to applicable executive orders, NPS regulations, and NPS management policies. In our view, the primary objective of any ORV management plan and special regulation should be to improve management and reduce impacts of ORV use. The goal should NOT be to make ORV use more pervasive and impactful, which would clearly be the outcome should the Plan for GLCA be implemented as proposed.
Please understand that we are not objecting to establishment of properly designated ORV routes; nor are we expressing concern about allowing street-legal ATVs to use park roads at GLCA. Rather, our primary concern is that NPS proposes to allow non-street legal vehicles to have widespread use of the park road network.
OHVs typically do NOT meet the same safety equipment requirements as street legal vehicles; and, in Utah which comprises a large portion of GLCA, OHVs can be operated by unlicensed and uninsured drivers. We are not aware of any other “ORV parks” that have opened large portions of their park road systems to vehicles that are NOT street-legal. We believe the GLCA proposal is an inappropriate use that will set a bad precedent for the rest of the National Park System.
In closing, we urge you to reconsider this ill-advised provision in the proposed rule. Non-street legal OHVs should be prohibited on all park roads at GLCA!
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Executive Council:
Phillip A. Francis, Chair
Douglas K. Morris, Vice Chair
Michael B. Murray
Richard Ring
Maria Burks
Brenda Barrett
Don Hellmann
Rebecca Harriett
Bob Mackreth
Sheridan Steele
Mark Butler
David Graber
Members of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks:
| Amy Gilbert Andrew T. Ringgold Anne C. Cully Anthony J. O'Sickey B. William Henry Barbara J. ("B.J.") Griffin Bill Jackson Bill Pierce Brian R Adams Bruce Douglas McKeeman Carl S. Christensen Carol J Spears Carol T. Linnig Carolyn L. Knoll Cathleen J.Cook Charles B Voll Charles McCurdy Cheryl Houghtelin Chris Seymour Christina R. Mills Clifford F. Chetwin Clyde Stonaker Colin "Toby" Hastie Cordell J. Roy Courtney Hotchkiss Craig C. Axtell Cynthia M. Holda D. Scott Hartwig Dan E. Huff Dan Moses Daniel J. Jenner Daniel K. Horner Dave Lattimore David A. Clary David C. Hartman David Donohue David H. Wallace David N. Given Dawn Foy Debra E. Levie. Dee Renee Ericks Delora M. Loope Denis P. Galvin Dennis Burnett Denny Huffman Deryl B Stone Don D. Bachman Donald Barry Donald E Magee Douglas De Nio | Dr. Harold P. Danz E. Peter Walzer E. Scott Kalbach Edward Pontbriand Elisabeth Warthin Chadwick Elizabeth Janes Elizabeth K. Murray Elizabeth Snyder Emilee Martell Erik R. Hauge Frances Norton Fred J Fagergren Gail C. Menard Gary G. Brandow Gary William Johnson Gene Casey George Alderson George Buckingham George H. Bowen Ginny Rousseau Glenn Sherrill Gretchen Luxenberg Helen Sullinger Henry Dustin McHenry J. Mel Poole J. W. Wade James C Roach James C. Redford Jr. James Pepper Jane C Anderson Janet c wolf Janet Holladay Wood Janis Kozlowski Jared cohen Jeff Ohlfs Jerry A. Eubanks Jerry Freilich Jerry Yarbrough Jervis D Swannack Joe Collins John E. Hunter John Freemuth John Howard John J Reynolds John K. Apel John L. Chew, Jr. John Richard Erisman John W Ford Jon Paynter Joseph H. Finan Joseph Lee Boyle | Joshua Montanari Joy Jamison Kate Roney Faulkner Katherine C. Ziegenfus Kathryn S. Brett Kathryn Thomas Ken Kehrer, Jr. Ken Phillips Kenneth E. Apschnikat Kim E. Sikoryak Kim Watson Larry L. Hakel Larry W. Frederick Larry Walling Laura M. Rotegard Len McKenzie Leslie Starr Hart Linda Finn Louise D. Hose Lynn D. Jamison Mark D. Flora Mark J Kellehet Mary Ann Richards Mary D. Partsch Mary E. Elms Maureen Finnerty Meg Weesner Michael K. Johnson Michael Stephen Piraino Nancy A. Nelson Nelson (Si) Siler Nicholas J Eason Norm H Simons Nova Clarke Oron L. Bass, Jr Patrick Richard Vigil Paul B. Cole III Paul Henderson Peter James Fitzpatrick Philip Heckman Philip R. Brueck Rev. William R. Morris Richard D. Knowlen Richard E Wells Richard L. Ernenwein Richard M. Bryant Rick Jones Rick Lee Mossman Rick Smith Robbyn Jackson Robert Burns | Robert E. Stinson Robert Joseph Abrell Robert Lippman Robert Yearout Roberta Barrows Roger A. Rudolph Roger Moder Ronald G. Thoman Russ Ludwick Sam Weddle Sandra Hamilton Scott e Tilley Scott R Sticha Sharon Paris Sherry V. Justus Shirley M. Clark Steve Harrison Steve Pittleman Steven R Gazzano Stuart L.Croll Terry W Savage Thomas Smith Timothy Harvey Timothy J. Oliverius Tom Haraden Vito Spinale W. Philip Koepp Wayne T. Jipsen Wendy S Artz William C. Walters William D Rice William David O'Donnell William F. Loftus, Ph.D. William F. Paleck William Gibson William H DeBerry William J Briggs William J Carroll William Loftus William Reid William Sanders Christine M. Nelson James Donald Hankins Peter Reinhardt Sarah C. Danner |