New Rule for Glen Canyon Motors Scrapped: Congress Uses Disapproval Power on Park Service Plan

This joint resolution takes direct aim at a new rule from the National Park Service (NPS) concerning motor vehicle use within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. In plain terms, Congress is using a specific power to say "no" to this NPS rule, stating that the rule, as submitted by the National Park Service, "will not be implemented." The core purpose here is to prevent these particular federal regulations for motor vehicles in Glen Canyon from ever taking effect.

Glen Canyon's Trails and Waters: What This Means for Access

So, what happens on the ground in Glen Canyon if this resolution passes? Essentially, the situation regarding motor vehicle access and use will revert to whatever rules were in place before this specific NPS rule was finalized, or if the rule was creating new restrictions, those restrictions won't materialize. For example, if the NPS rule aimed to limit off-road vehicle use in certain ecologically sensitive areas or adjust speed limits on waterways, this resolution would stop those changes. This means individuals or groups who might have faced new limitations under the NPS rule likely won't see those changes. Conversely, any new protections or management strategies for the environment or visitor experience that the NPS rule intended to introduce will be shelved. The direct impact is that a planned regulatory update by the NPS for this popular recreation area is being halted before it starts.

Pulling the Plug: The Congressional Review Act in Action

This move to block the NPS rule utilizes a tool called the Congressional Review Act (CRA), found in chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code. Think of the CRA as a fast-track option for Congress to overturn rules issued by federal agencies. While agencies like the NPS typically go through extensive processes involving research, public comment, and expert review to create new regulations, the CRA allows Congress to disapprove a final rule with a resolution like this one. This effectively bypasses that standard agency rulemaking procedure for the specific rule in question. The National Park Service loses its authority to implement this particular motor vehicle management plan, and the congressional action underscores a check on agency regulatory power, though it also means less agency-led oversight on this specific issue goes into effect.