Record of Decision allowing PWC Permanent Access to Lake Powell!
Page, Arizona:
On Monday, June 30th the National Park Service released the Record of Decision (ROD) on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Personal Watercraft Rulemaking at Lake Powell. The Record of Decision presents the agency's decision to allow personal watercraft (PWC) access at Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir straddling the Utah-Arizona border popular with recreationists. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Kitty Roberts, who signed the Record of Decision, explained "after thorough analysis and extensive public involvement, the National Park Service (NPS) has determined it will implement alternative B from the final EIS because it best meets the general management objectives of the NPS for protecting recreation area resources and values while offering recreation opportunities. Following the Record of Decision, the Park Service will publish a final rule outlining the manner in which PWC may be operated at Lake Powell.
Jack Welch, President of the BlueRibbon Coalition and founder of the Lake Powell PWC Action Task Force, stated "on the surface we are pleased by the Decision to allow permanent PWC access to Lake Powell. We have not had time to review the ROD in detail but it appears the Park Service has made a positive step forward with a decision which will allow continuing PWC access with reasonable restrictions."
PWC access to the Lake has been in limbo following a series of lawsuits stretching back to 2001. An earlier case was brought against the Park Service by the anti-PWC Blue Water Network. That suit was settled, and as a result of the settlement the Park Service agreed to generate a new rule and PWC were banned at Lake Powell in November 2002. However, PWC enthusiasts filed a suit in Utah in March 2003, and a settlement in that case allowed the Park Service to temporarily remove the ban while the new PWC rule was being completed.
Freddie Hancock, owner of a Page, Arizona, business catering to PWC enthusiasts added, "this long-anticipated decision will hopefully solidify the role of PWC-based recreation at Lake Powell and will allow families and local businesses to better plan for activities at the Lake." Tim McDaniels, another Page PWC-oriented business owner agreed, observing, "the ability to lift the PWC ban helped save our business, but we need a long-term rule in place. We hope that all interests can work together in fine-tuning a management scheme that will always include reasonable PWC access to Lake Powell."
The BlueRibbon Coalition, a national recreation access advocacy organization will be working to help the Park Service complete the rulemaking process and provide for long-term PWC access to Lake Powell. Visit the BlueRibbon Coalition website at www.sharetrails.org for the latest details.