Catherwood LibraryILR School

A report released last week documents a frightening increase in the number of attacks against Park Service rangers, Forest Service, and Fish and Wildlife employees in the past year---over 900%, over 100% and 22 percent, respectively. Although Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management officials have questioned the accuracy of the report released by non-profit federal employee defense group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the U.S. Park Rangers Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police has requested a government study of the causes of the attacks. PEER is pushing for the Justice Department to begin obeying requirements under the 1996 Anti-Terrorism Act for the keeping of records on attacks against government employees, but the Justice Department has said it lacks the necessary resources.