Avalanche blasting in park still prohibited The National Park Service has issued a final decision denying BNSF Railway permission to use explosives for avalanche control on Glacier National Park's southern boundary except under extreme, emergency circumstances. The decision signed by Mike Snyder, the service's Intermountain regional director, does, however, allow the railroad to monitor the potential for avalanches on the steep slopes above railroad tracks in the Middle Fork Flathead River corridor. The railroad had requested permission to use light artillery to reduce the threat of avalanches to railroad traffic. "The area of the park that was the subject of this [environmental impact statement] has federally listed threatened and endangered species present, is within the park's recommended wilderness, provides winter recreation for park visitors and is important winter range for deer, elk and other ungulate species," Cartwright added....Endangered Species: 1, Human Safety: 0