The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association announced today that the Bluewater Network and the National Parks and Conservation Association filed a lawsuit Nov. 28 asking for widespread closures of off-road vehicle (ORV) use within the National Parks System.
ISMA says that a clause in the lawsuit excludes snowmobiles from the ORV designation and the suit wouldn't directly affect snowmobiling in the parks. However, ISMA also says that if the suit is successful, the groups will have completely excluded other ORVs from operating in the parks, until the National Parks Service "jumps through a series of regulatory hoops" to reopen areas.
An estimated 100 National Park Service Units could be affected by the lawsuit and it also may have long-term impact on the snowmobile community, as a victory could make it easier for a potential second victory to ban other forms of outdoor recreation.
ISMA says it and other snowmobile agencies will be watching the lawsuit carefully and participating when necessary.
In other related news, the American Council of Snowmobile Associations recently held its 2nd annual Land Summit and discussed issues like those above. For a note from the ACSA explaining all that was discussed at the summit,
click here