The petition "PROTESTS the outrageous criminalizing by the National Park Service and the federal courts of a public spirited man, Doug Frederick, of Slana, who was undertaking a volunteer trail improvement demonstration."  It continues,  "The National Park Service claims to be a good neighbor but its actions abusing this family speak louder than words.  "The $500 fine imposed by Magistrate John Roberts is not against Doug and Judy Frederick. IT IS AGAINST THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY and it is obviously intended to send a message that if anyone tries to protect the public's ANILCA rights, they will be punished by the system.

"THE COMMUNITY SENDS THIS MESSAGE BACK TO THE NPS:  What has been done is unjust, oppressive, not correct, not credible, and not honest. We have collected all of the fine money here tendered among us. We resolve that the Fredericks will pay none of it."

Related issues:  PARK SERVICE ACTIONS SHUT OUT THE PUBLIC, WASTE TAX FUNDS AND DAMAGE THE ENVIRONMENT

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OTHER OUTLETS:  San Francisco Chronicle (2/17)  ; Juneau Empire (2/17) ; Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (2/17)

Federal District Court (Magistrate John Roberts) - Sentencing hearing - Wayne Ross (attorney for Doug Frederick):  In the old days we picked up hitchhikers because we looked out for folks ; we can't do so much any more because when we try to help people, sometimes we get mugged.  I see that situation here.  The NPS was duplicitous in this case.  Mr. Frederick, like picking up a hitchhiker, he got mugged.  I am taking the appeal of this case PRO BONO because...what the NPS has done is not correct, not credible, not honest. 

REALITY:  Life in the bush is risky. The NPS has one effective pressure tactic in its tool box that it deploys with impunity against inholders.  It knows -- in the long run -- it can weaken its targets by taking actions that cause an increase in stress, accidents, financial losses and tragedies in the lives of people it wants off of private lands of interest to the park.

But Frederick...said he would have removed the pallets if asked.  "How the judge could even remotely think I was guilty is way beyond me," he said.  And the trial has been devastating to him personally. His 21-year-old daughter died in a car accident while returning his truck to him because he needed to get to Anchorage to deal with his court case.  "This has cost me everything I had," said Frederick, 54.

Jim Stratton, Alaska regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association, is sympathetic with Frederick's desire to have better access. The government works slowly, he said. But "it's a national park," he said. "We need to treat that land differently."

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What cost “justice?” - The Park Service told Mr. Frederick that they did not have money for trail repair.  Actually, during the summer of 2002 the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program was the recipient of a $30,000 grant from the State Recreation Trail Grant program. Incredibly, they elected to spend the money on a trail 30 miles outside the park, on BLM land.  Yet the NPS had money to prosecute Mr. Frederick....So, over $40,000 dollars later, the trails are exactly as they were when this whole thing started. We now know the cost. On a cost-benefit analysis, what was the benefit?  Was it necessary for the Park Service to take this course to stop Mr. Frederick? We will never know because they tried no other means; no telephone call, no letter, no nothing. According to Mr. Frederick a phone call would have been plenty.

Is there a pattern? - Individuals like Mr. Frederick actually become tools in the hands of the Park Service. Regardless of how this trial turns out, whether he is found guilty or innocent, the Park Service wins. They have exerted tremendous pain and suffering on Doug and communicated loud and clear to all those watching that they are a force to be reckoned with. Every one on their team goes home, well paid, and never inconvenienced. Mr. Frederick however has suffered incalculable costs.

See article:  Rick Kenyon - Nabesna ATV trails closed - Wrangell St. Elias News - NPS accused of pandering, harassment - The NPS had announced that several ATV trails in the area were causing ecological damage to the parklands, and they were considering closing these trails. Trail users said the trails had been used for years, long before the area became a national park, so instead of closing them, how about we just fix them up a bit?...Although many people at the Slana meeting testified against the trail closures, and no one spoke in favor of them, it seemed to have little effect on the outcome. According to those present, anger and dismay grew more evident as the evening progressed. Most people called for increased access into the Park, not less, lamenting that in the 13 million acre park there is very little road access. Many accused the NPS of pandering to outside interests instead of listening to the local subsistence users.   

Frederick and [former State Legislator Dick] Shultz tried to partnership with the NPS. They proposed that the NPS provide materials to stabilize some of the trails, and that locals would volunteer their time for the improvements. Sorry, said Chief Ranger Hunter Sharp, no money in the budget for that sort of thing.

Chief Ranger Hunter Sharp threatens Doug Frederick :  

Sharp:  Mr Frederick, you scare me
Frederick:  Why is that?
Sharp:  You want development, we can't have development. Our job is to protect the park.
Frederick:  I agree but your job is also to make the park accessible for the enjoyment of the public. I think that people should be able to come here and see and enjoy the park.
Sharp:  That's where you're wrong, my job is to protect the park and if I have to I'll fence it off. You and I are going to push and shove, but I've got a bigger push than you do.  (conversation reported by Doug Frederick to have taken place at this meeting)