Important Final Decision Announced DC Circuit Court of Appeals on National Park Overflights!
After extraordinary efforts by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the FAA has been ordered by the Court to bring twenty-three National Parks into compliance with the National Park Air Tour Management Act (NPATMA)- Glacier National Park is one of them!
The Act passed in 2000, intended to be carried out in two years, required Air Tour Management Plans (ATMP) be developed in parks where private commercial air tours operate. That was two decades ago. PEER took on this cause in 2017 to insist the agencies follow the law.
These twenty-three National Parks have been overrun by commercial air tours and allowed to do so on an interim operating authority (IOA) that was intended to provide a temporary permit while the ATMP was put in place. That wasn't working either so in 2013 operators were required to keep track of the tours and provide that to the parks. That, is another story.
Glacier National Park has been on the radar and on the list as a priority since before the NPATMA was passed by Congress. Glacier National Park has been working on this since the early '90's and it is reflected in the 1999 General Management Plan.
Congratulations to PEER, all the parks, wildlife and visitors today and in the future, that will benefit from this long overdue ruling.
Thank you for continuing to support and network this petition to make sure we see this through to helping Glacier National Park restore its natural sounds resource. Stay-tuned for the details as they unfold.
Meanwhile, wishing you safe harbors in the sea of uncertainty, and that you can get out for some fresh spring air in a quiet place.
Sincerely,
Mary T. McClelland, coordinator & the 33 organizations of the Friends for a Quiet! Glacier Coalition
For details see: Notice of Docket Activity. The following transaction was entered on 05/01/2020 at 10:07:48 AM EDT and filed on 05/01/2020 Case Name: In re: Public Employees for Enviro, et al Case Number: 19-1044