News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2002
Personal Watercraft Users and Manufacturers Request Dismissal of Lawsuit Against
National Park Service
Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-721-1621
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524
VICTORIA, TX— The Personal Watercraft
Industry Association (PWIA), American Watercraft Association
(AWA) and two personal watercraft users have asked a federal
court judge in Texas to dismiss their lawsuit against the
National Park Service (NPS).
The suit had argued that NPS failed to complete
required environmental assessments before banning personal
watercraft from a number of parks. However, the day before
oral argument in the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary
injunction to delay the bans, the National Park Service announced
that environmental assessments would move forward in 16 parks.
During oral argument, the Department of Justice attorney revealed
the "surprise information" embodied by the announcement.
"Though we believe it would have been fairer
to delay the onset of bans in park units which had not completed
or, in some cases, had not even begun the necessary public
comment and environmental study process," said Monita
Fontaine, executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry
Association, "we are heartened that the National Park
Service has made a commitment to honor the National Environmental
Policy Act procedures."
Fontaine continued, "The National Park Service
is moving forward with environmental assessments in most of
the national seashores and recreation areas at issue, which
is an outcome we hoped for when we brought this lawsuit. We
largely got what we came for, so there is no reason to proceed
with the case."
In an April 16, 2002 press release, NPS stated
that "16 sites will proceed with special regulations
as required by the national PWC rule (36 CFR 3.24), finalized
in April 2000, which will include conducting environmental
assessments or environmental impact statements under the requirements
of the National Environmental Policy Act, preparing an economic
analysis, and seeking public comment throughout the entire
process."
A summer 2001 independent survey by the Leisure
Trends Group showed that a majority of Americans believe personal
watercraft use should be permitted in the National Parks.
The same survey found that consumers 55 years and older and
Americans who have never tried the sport have more negative
attitudes towards personal watercraft.
Personal watercraft are affordable family boats
that seat up to four people and have no exposed propellers.
Makers of personal watercraft support reasonable regulations,
strict enforcement of navigation and safety laws, and mandatory
boating education. Criticism of personal watercraft focuses
on stale data, ignoring recent technological advances that
make modern vessels 75 percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter
than 1998 models, and initiatives to promote safe and responsible
use of these motorboats.
The national parks moving forward with the process
to allow personal watercraft are:
- Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
- Assateague Island National Seashore (MD/VA)
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT/WY)
- Big Thicket National Preserve (TX)
- Chickasaw National Recreation Area (OK)
- Curecanti National Recreation Area (CO)
- Fire Island National Seashore (NY)
- Gateway National Recreation Area (NJ/NY)
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ/UT)
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ/NV)
- Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
- Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (WA)
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (MI)
- Cape Lookout National Seashore (NC)
- Gulf Islands National Seashore (FL/MS)
- Padre Island National Seashore (TX)
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