Though the Quiet! Glacier Coalition is not a party to the lawsuit we applaud PEER for demanding action. Scenic overflights are a significant problem for our National Parks, and Glacier has been in the spotlight and a priority of Congress since 1987. The time to address this is twenty years ago and today. When FAA was unable to complete a single ATMP in the first decade of the law requiring it, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Voluntary Agreement (VA) was passed as an alternative to an ATMP. In this amendment, Title V of the Act allows the NPS and the FAA to enter into a voluntary agreement with a commercial air tour operator. But the ATMP is still enforceable if no Voluntary Agreement (VA) can be agreed to, and a VA in Glacier is near dead on arrival. FAA abruptly halted Glacier’s early work on an ATMP in 2004, because the the park plan called for a complete phase-out of scenic overflights over this precious wilderness national park per the General Management Plan. PEER's lawsuit brings back to the forefront that the NPS can require an ATMP and may establish controls over commercial tours, including extinguishing them permanently. To that end, we have tried to carry the message to the public, to the National Parks Overflight Advisory Group and the agency heads, that there are three things at work in Glacier National Park: 1) The disproportionate number of people causing noise pollution and disturbance adversely impacting the experience for the majority of visitors in a very condensed season. Glacier is accessible to everyone who visits the Park, with access to the view and the experience on Going-to-the-Sun Road by car, shuttle, or bus. And because of the commercial air tours, everybody who visits Glacier National Park has to endure the noise of the helicopters servicing a very few. 2) Glacier is 95% defacto Wilderness. Director's order #41 states that defacto Wilderness be managed as Wilderness. The Director's Order, dated May 13, 2013, defines the number one NPS role and responsibility as "Visitor and Resource Protection". 3) This is a noise and visual pollution issue, not an aviation issue. See below for PEER's press release link and other articles. Copy and paste these links into your browser: PEER https://www.peer.org/news/news-releases/lawsuit-to-ground-excessive-national-park-overflights.html COURTHOUSE NEWS WASHINGTON DC https://www.courthousenews.com/free-rein-choppers-drives-park-enthusiasts-court/ NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2017/10/peer-files-lawsuit-quiet-skies-over-national-parks SALT LAKE TRIBUNE http://www.sltrib.com/news/nation-world/2017/10/05/groups-sue-faa-for-noise-pollution-above-national-parks-including-one-in-utah/ US NEWS https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/hawaii/articles/2017-10-04/groups-sue-faa-to-seek-air-tour-plans-for-national-parks FLATHEAD BEACON http://flatheadbeacon.com/2017/10/04/groups-sue-faa-seek-air-tour-plans-national-parks/ You can help even more by promoting this petition, and signing to support another change.org Overflight petition entitled: Require Hawaii Island Helicopter Air Tours to fly offshore https://www.change.org/p/us-senator-schatz-and-hirono-and-us-representative-gabbard-and-hanabusa-require-hawaii-island-helicopter-air-tours-to-fly-offshore Listening to the silence is probably one of the most profound experiences we can have in our everyday life. [Anne Wilson Schaef] Our National Parks are the only places left where that is even remotely possible to experience. It is quiet in Glacier now. Winter is a good time to reflect on how we can work to protect this rare and wonderful resource. Thank you to everyone who signs this petition, makes comments and continues to pass forward to everyone you know who values the silence and quiet we seek in our National Parks. Thank you to the Coalition Members listed below, who continue the exhaustive, essential work of protecting our public lands for all Americans to enjoy today and for future generations. ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES AMERICAN PACKRAFTING ASSOCIATION CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONSERVATION CONGRESS EARTHWISE PRODUCTIONS FLATHEAD AUDUBON SOCIETY FRIENDS OF THE WILD SWAN GLACIER TWO MEDICINE ALLIANCE GREAT OLD BROADS FOR WILDERNESS GRINNELL FAMILY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA HEADWATERS MONTANA LATINO OUTDOORS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ESTES PARK LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MONTANA MONTANA ECOSYSTEMS DEFENSE COUNCIL MONTANA WILDERNESS ASSOCIATION NATURE SOUNDS SOCIETY NATIONAL PARK CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION NORTH FORK PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION ONE SQUARE INCH OF SILENCE FOUNDATION RESTORE THE NORTH WOODS SIERRA CLUB S.P.E.C.I.E.S. SWAN VIEW COALITION WILD MOUNTAIN ECHOES WILD SANCTUARY WILDEARTH GUARDIANS WILDERNESS WATCH WILDWEST INSTITUTE YELLOWSTONE SAFARI COMPANY