A federal judge strongly rebuked the Bush administration on Dec. 16 for rescinding a Clinton-era plan to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan called the administration’s action “completely politically driven and result oriented” -- pointing out that it ran counter to scientific evidence -- and reinstated the phase-out just hours before the start of the snowmobile season. Sullivan noted one study that found Yellowstone at times had carbon monoxide levels as high as Los Angeles.

The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) filed a lawsuit Dec. 9 against the Army Corp of Engineers alleging the Corp released a status report that violates the Data Quality Act. The Corp failed to respond to a request for correction under the Department of Defense’s data quality guidelines filed by PEER on Aug. 20.

OMB Watch has asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to deny a request from the Department of Health Human Services (HHS) to conduct a national survey of Head Start program executive salaries and travel costs because it duplicates information HHS already has and places an unnecessary burden on Head Start programs.

The Internal Revenue Service’s manager for electronic program initiatives has said the IRS will be ready to accept electronic submission for Form 990, the annual financial and activity report filed by most nonprofits, during the first quarter of 2004.