Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift told the Beacon that Zinke spoke to park officials in March about allowing landowners within park boundaries – whose boats never leave the park – to be able to use park waters.

Zinke did not talk about allowing additional motorized boats, Swift said.

The Beacon learned about the pressure from Zinke after obtaining an internal memo circulated among National Park Service employees.

Park officials had initially said they did not plan to allow any motorized watercraft access this summer before abruptly announcing Monday that restrictions would be eased on all boats using Glacier’s Lake McDonald in coming weeks. More here.

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