BOISE, Idaho (BRAIN) — A conservationist is suing the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, and several state land management agencies over e-bike usage on a section of singletrack trails in the Sun Valley area.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday cites 57 miles of trails that allow a variety of e-bike classes, including Class 3 models that can reach speeds of up to 28 mph, "giving little notice or time for wildlife to move, escape, or rest, particularly during the winter." Additionally, e-bikes are allowed on those trails year-round.
According to the suit, these trails were authorized for e-bikes by land management in 2021 "to do an end-around land use planning laws" without properly amending the Off-Road Vehicle designation. The suit says this violates land use planning statute in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and requests a judicial review.
Elizabeth Lili Simpson, who has and still serves in a variety of conservation roles including being a longtime advocate for big-game winter habits in the Sun Valley area, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho.
The land use changes instituted without an amendment under federal law, the suit says, were appealed by Simpson to the Interior Board of Land Appeals in April 2021. On July 19 this year, the IBLA issued its decision, agreeing with the land use change.
The lawsuit asks for the decision that was affirmed by the IBLA to be referred to an administrative law judge for a hearing to resolve the dispute. Further, it asks for litigation costs, expenses and attorney fees to be paid, and for the court to award further relief as it believes appropriate.
