Three South Dakota tour companies petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit to allow air tours to resume, arguing that they were “arbitrary and capricious.” But the court ruled Thursday to uphold the bans.
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility joined the South Dakota court case as supporters of the ban.
“We are pleased at the Court’s decision finding that the agencies’ ban on overflights was both legal and reasonable,” PEER Staff Counsel Colleen Zimmerman said in a news release.