Rule would ease motorcycling restrictions in parks

With only a month left in the Bush administration, another proposal has been made to ease regulations for the National Park Service. This time, the Department of the Interior is seeking greater discretion for individual park supervisors to decide whether to allow mountain bikes and motorcycles on park trails.

Currently, parks must go through a rulemaking process that formally considers environmental concerns and park patrons. The proposal would waive that requirement. At least one former park superintendent says the proposal would cause more difficulties. Denny Huffman, former superintendent for Dinosaur National Monument, said in a statement, "This proposed regulation change would only open more park superintendents and managers to pressure by mountain bikers to open trails where that use conflicts with other visitors."

Juliet Eilpern of The Washington Post writes that "While the White House has barred agencies from issuing rules with a major impact on the economy less than 60 days before Bush leaves office, Bush spokesman Tony Fratto wrote in an e-mail that 'this was a non-significant rule.'" (Read more)