Court Of Appeals Rules Against Yosemite

Yosemite, Ca — Yosemite National Park officials suffered a setback Thursday when a federal appeals court decision blocked more than 100 million dollars in planned construction projects.

The Associated Press reports that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the projects must be halted because the developments threaten the park´s fragile ecosystem.

The court has ruled that work on moving campgrounds, re-routing an access road and upgrading hotel rooms on the Yosemite Valley floor must wait until at least September of 2009 when a new plan is submitted to manage the federally protected Merced River.

The lawsuit was filed by Friends of Yosemite Valley and Mariposans for the Environment and Responsible Government. The court ruling states that the park service had broken federal law by not requiring a response to environmental degradation until after it already occurs.

Written by BJ Hansen