BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Turcke, 208-331-1800
Russ Ehnes, 406-899-0898
Date: July 7, 2010
COURT ADOPTS LEWIS AND CLARK REMEDY - RESTORES ACCESS
GREAT FALLS, MT (July 7)--Recreation groups are applauding a victory for public access announced in federal court in Montana on July 2, 2010. The Court found legal flaws in a 2007 Travel Plan issued by the Lewis and Clark National Forest, and adopted the remedy proposed by the Forest Service and Plaintiffs in the case. As a result, restrictions on over 200 miles of trail will be modified, and travel for dispersed camping restored on over 80,000 acres within 300 feet of certain routes.
"This is an unprecedented result for the recreation community," observed Brian Hawthorne, Public Lands Policy Director of the BlueRibbon Coalition. "Too many agencies have erred on the side of eliminating access, and we hope that this decision sends the message that the law requires balance, and that recreationists should never give up hope participating in the process," Hawthorne concluded.
The recent order came in the "remedy phase" of the litigation, and followed the Court's ruling on the merits on March 10, 2010. A judgment largely concluding proceedings in the district court was filed on July 6, 2010. Preservationist intervenors Montana Wilderness Association have indicated they are likely to appeal.
For additional information view-
http://www.mic.org/news070210.cfm (MIC-SVIA news release July 2, 2010)
http://m.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100703/NEWS01/7030302/-1/WAP&template=wapart (Great Falls Tribune article July 3, 2010)
http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_d85e5eda-87c7-11df-a228-001cc4c002e0.html (Missoulian article July 4, 2010)
