Hovercraft access to NPS waterways

To:  National Park Service

Below is a petition to be delivered to the Director of the U.S. National Parks Services. Currently the "Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Volume 1, Chapter 1, Part 2, Section 2.17 Paragraph (e)”. States: "The operation or use of hovercraft is prohibited".
Those who know the operating characteristics of hovercraft, know they are unquestionably the most environmentally friendly modes of transport currently available for the variety of conditions that a hovercraft is capable of traversing. As the hovercraft technology is advancing day by day and becoming quieter, more efficient, and safer then ever before. In light of this we would like to make it perfectly clear the access rules are the only rules we wish modified. ALL noise abatement, safe operations and waterways use, rules are neither requested to be changed nor expected to be. We simply want equality with other crafts allowed access to the waterways.
We the hovercraft owners, operators and enthusiasts, feel that we and our machines have been unfairly completely banned from the use of the N.P.S. waterways without justification. We do not expect or demand special treatment, just fair and equal consideration given to powerboats and other motorized vehicles now allowed on the National Parks Services waterways.
We request and petition the Director and any other ruling body to reconsider the current prohibition. We do not expect an immediate total repeal of the rule, rather we would like to suggest a modification and/or some alternatives for consideration:
#1. Leave the choice of whether a particular park (and what part thereof) is opened for use by hovercraft up to the local park Superintendent. He/she may wish to allow the use, by special use permit, or certification of the craft for use on the park waterways, IF it meets the standards laid down in section 3.7 (noise abatement) and any other rules which apply to watercraft and other motorized vehicles.
#2. Open certain parks and/or sections thereof to hovercraft, on a trial basis. After a reasonable period of time, if the hovercraft prove to be of no more harm to the natural order of things, than the power-boats, or other motorized vessels, which are already allowed; then perhaps more, if not all, parks where power-boats, etc. are allowed should be opened to hovercraft as well.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Hovercraft access to NPS waterways Petition to National Park Service was created by Hovercraft enthusiasts and written by Douglas Pendleton / Eric Mings.  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no express or implied endorsement of this petition by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. The petition scripts are created by Mike Wheeler at Artifice, Inc.  For Technical Support please use our simple Petition Help form.

Send this to a friend