SCI Praises Proposed National Park Service Rule Implementing Sturgeon Supreme Court Decision

Washington, DC – April 30, 2020 – Safari Club International (SCI) praises the proposal published today by the National Park Service (NPS) to amend NPS regulations applicable to Alaska.  The proposed rule implements the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sturgeon v. Frost, a case brought by SCI Life Member John Sturgeon.

Sturgeon was cited by the NPS after using his hovercraft in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Alaska to get to his favorite moose-hunting location.  He challenged an NPS regulation prohibiting use of hovercrafts on rivers flowing through NPS lands on the ground that it did not apply to Alaska.

The case went to the Supreme Court twice.  SCI filed a trio of amicus briefs in support of Sturgeon’s position.

The Supreme Court held that the NPS lacks authority to regulate non-federal lands, even those located within National Park and Preserve borders, under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA).  The NPS may only regulate federally-owned lands in the National Park System.   Because the State of Alaska owns the submerged lands under navigable waters in Alaska, the NPS cannot regulate those waterways.  Under the Supreme Court’s opinion, Sturgeon could “again rev up his hovercraft in search of moose.”

Today’s proposed rules were published in response to a petition by the State of Alaska.  They revise the “Scope and Applicability” of NPS regulations to clarify that they do not apply to non-federally owned waterways in Alaska.  The proposal also carves out non-public lands from falling within the boundaries of National Park System units in Alaska.

“Safari Club appreciates that the proposed NPS rules remain true to the Supreme Court’s decision,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin.  “The Supreme Court did more than tell the NPS to allow hovercrafts.  The Court made clear that ANILCA restricts where the NPS can regulate to federal lands in Alaska.  This ensures the proper balance of State and federal authority, and benefits hunters by reducing the restrictions applicable to non-federal lands.”

For more information about SCI’s reaction to the proposed rule, contact Regina Lennox at rlennox@safariclub.org.

Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.SafariClub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

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