The 2005 plan by Assistant Deputy Interior Secretary Paul Hoffman would have placed more emphasis on recreation and expanded the use of snowmobiles and ATVs on federal land.

Now, that may have changed. Also, she said a court case concerning ORV use in the park is pivotal to the dispute.

"I think that what's important about today is that it appears the Department of Interior is demonstrating its resolve to protect the national parks," said Tipton.

In Dinosaur National Monument, which is located in Utah and Colorado, historic cattle grazing takes place, he said. The group thinks the grazing should be phased out. Tipton said the new management policies will put a spotlight on the issue.

The newspaper asked whether the latest proposals, plus President Bush's declaration of a vast new national monument in Hawaii, signal a change in administration attitudes toward environmental protection.

Arnberger commented, "I'm not sure we ought to read too much national strategy into this. ... When you mess with the parks, you're messing with a national heritage that will bring people to the front."

Still, Arnberger added, "As a past professional with the National Park Service ... I can't tell you how refreshing it was to read the new secretary's comments. And the devils will be in the details."

Kempthorne's statement "reaffirms the very principles that parks are all about, and I found that just a wonderfully refreshing thing to happen."

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com