[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - PARK LAWBREAKING PROMPTS LITIGATION FUND DRIVE]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - PARK LAWBREAKING PROMPTS LITIGATION FUND DRIVE
Date: 	Fri, 12 Aug 2005 22:12:47 -0600
From: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>



RRFW Riverwire – PARK LAWBREAKING PROMPTS LITIGATION FUND DRIVE

Release date: August 12, 2005

River Runners for Wilderness has learned that Grand Canyon National Park 
is planning to avoid public review of the need for and appropriateness 
of, commercial river concessions services on the Colorado River in Grand 
Canyon. The park is nearing completion of an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for recreational river running in the park’s proposed 
wilderness. The draft EIS, called the Colorado River Management Plan 
(CRMP), did not include any consideration of a range of commercial 
services. By law, the park must evaluate what type, how much of and even 
if concessions services are necessary given the huge public backlog of 
pending do-it-yourself non-concessions permits.

The park is drafting a renewal process for its ten-year river 
concessions contracts based on the CRMP. In doing so the park continues 
to allow river concessions services without public input and a National 
Environmental Policy (NEPA) Review which, by law the Park Service is 
required to formally conduct. According to TinaMarie Ekker of Montana 
based Wilderness Watch, “The National Park Service can't rely on the 
CRMP as its NEPA “needs” assessment for the river concessionaires, the 
CRMP doesn't even address the issue!”

For the last two years, River Runners for Wilderness and other groups 
have pointed out this deficiency to the park through unanswered written 
correspondence. “We clearly showed the park they were remiss in their 
planning compliance, and they have done nothing to correct it” notes Jo 
Johnson, Co-Director of River Runners for Wilderness. “With this in 
mind, we have begun a litigation fund drive and are asking for donations 
to raise enough funds to bring this issue to legal review.”

This summer for the first time, river concessions are attempting to sell 
empty seats on their river trips through Costco.com and eBay. “This 
allocation dumping is bitterly ironic because the park permanently 
stopped new applications to the waiting list for a do-it-yourself permit 
to raft the river. Those lucky enough to already be on the 
do-it-yourself list will wait 15 years or more to raft the river with 
their family and friends” says Johnson. “This long wait blatantly 
discriminates against recreational paddlers.”

“Handing access to a small group of commercial river concessionaires 
while the river running public is barred from do-it-yourself access, 
along with the park’s refusal to follow mandated NEPA compliance, has 
forced RRFW to initiate a litigation fundraising campaign” continues 
Johnson. “Lawyers experienced in NEPA compliance are not cheap. Our goal 
is to raise $60,000 in 6 months.”

To donate to RRFW’s legal campaign, visit www.rrfw.org/store.php 
<http://www.rrfw.org/store/php> or send contributions to River Runners 
For Wilderness, PO Box 17301, Boulder CO, 80308.

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