ZION NATIONAL PARK – Steven Sieren was convicted for engaging in a business operation in Zion National Park without a permit and paid a $500 fine.
After receiving a tip about a potential permit violation, park rangers apprehended Sieren as he was attempting to obtain a permit for a trip into “The Subway,” a popular canyon route. Sieren initially denied allegations that he was operating in a commercial capacity, claiming that he was traveling with friends. He later admitted to rangers that he was indeed operating a paid photography workshop.
Sieren was convicted on Dec. 4, 2012, for engaging in a business operation on federal wilderness land without a permit. He paid a $500 fine and may be denied a Commercial Use Authorization in the future.
Commercial guiding and other business operations in wilderness are prohibited by federal law; 90 percent of Zion National Park is managed as wilderness. Certain commercial activities are permitted in nonwilderness areas of the park, but all require a Commercial Use Authorization.
More information about permits can be found on the Zion National Park website.
Submitted by: Zion National Park
Email: [email protected]
Wow! I’m glad our federal authorities are actively apprehending these hardened criminals that are running amok in our national parks. Helps me sleep better at night.
So much for “Land of the Free”.
What a horrible evil has been done (sharing Zion National Park), which we all are owners of; Mr. Sieren,
you and I . How evil to share with others how to create pictures to bring home for others to see. Then, when others see these pictures, and see why the park is a place worth loving, and a place worth protecting as a National Park. they too want to protect Zion NP. So let’s convict and fine all who try to share the wonders of the National Parks (OUR National Parks!). What a horrible thought that someone would try to share a way to let everyone know that the National Parks are worth loving and protecting. The National Parks are about the beauty of Nature, not for revenue production. Shame upon the National Park System.
So do you folks want outfitters snagging all the permits and crowding the trails in the parks? Do we want to turn the parks into a Disney venture? I mean, if we have laws, we ought to enforce them. If we don’t like the laws, we need to change them. (That should be true at all levels of government, I might add.)