The ATC/NPS has authority in the AT corridor, which includes lands not owned by the NPS that the AT runs through. Typically the corridor is 400 feet wide, but that varies depending on the land owner the ATC/NPS has the agreement with.
Groundspeak received a request by a federal law enforcement body. While I can't speak for them, I'm guessing its their policy to honor the request and sort out the details later. Technically, anyone who owns a cache in the AT corridor could face fines for abandoning property there. While this may be unlikely, it's possible. Groundspeak is probably trying to protect us from further penalties by cooperating. Not to mention that being uncooperative with a federal agency isn't going to bode well for future relations. I'd like to see a rapid review of these archivals, especially the questionable ones. However, I also believe that cooperating with law enforcement is always a good idea. There will be time for questions later, I hope. Obviously the NPS has overstepped their bounds a bit on some of these caches, I'm hopeful that Groundspeak will call them on it.
Hello all,
I just ran into this problem with the ATC and Groundspeak this past week. I tried to place a cache off the AT by 100 -200 feet near Pulpit Rock, PA. My cache was not published until I did the following:
Called the ATC as I'm an ATC Member and asked about AT easements concerning the AT and private property. Yes my cache is on private property. If you try to place a cache on NPS property, it won't work as the NPS will not approve any "normal" cache. I'll get back to normal later. I then received the approval of the land owner or its board to place my cache on their property. Now I again called the ATC and asked about easement distances concerning the AT. I was told to contact the only AT NPS ranger in town. I called a Mr. Todd Remaley and we talked for a half hour on this subject! It seems that the AT has experienced
damage from illeagal caches on the AT. Mr. Remaley stated that Groundspeak wasn't cooperating with the NPS and that leagal action against Groundspeak might be the only course of action left. He did state that "Earthcaches" seem like a great idea and that the NPS might consider allowing them placed near or on the AT in the future.
WA3WSJ
