A long-awaited safety assessment of special events in Death Valley National Park has resulted in restrictions that appear to rule out any future summer runnings of the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon there.

The report, prepared by National Park Service employees, imposes new rules that ban events inside the park below an elevation of 2,000 feet after 10 a.m. on any day between June 14 and September 9, when temperatures typically reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Badwater, which bills itself as “the world’s toughest footrace,” has traditionally been run in July, with a morning start from the Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level.

Because the Park Service imposed a moratorium on such events this year while the review was undertaken, the 2014 Badwater was moved to a new course in Lone Pine, California.

Race organizer Chris Kostman told Runner’s World Newswire, “I still see a bright future for the Badwater 135.”

In his statement, which he later also posted on his Facebook page, Kostman—head of ultra-endurance company and Badwater parent AdventureCORPS—said he would have no further comment “until we have fully digested the myriad new requirements for hosting events in the park.” He said he also has asked for clarification of some parts of the report.

Park spokeswoman Cheryl Chipman said the new rules are here to stay.

“This is the final decision,” Chipman said. “Anybody who wants to hold an event in Death Valley will go through our application process, which now will be a little more involved. And our requirements will be a little more structured than they have been in the past.” She said the park already has received two applications under the new process, both for events in the fall.

The controversy over the Badwater is being closely watched by other parks where running and cycling events have sometimes come into conflict with the nearly 300 million annual visitors to national parks.

The policies imposed as a result of the safety review apparently would not affect most other activities at Death Valley, including marathons in February and December and cycling events put on there by AdventureCORPS.

While there have been several reported near collisions between Badwater runners on foot and other visitors in cars, the Park Service report cited summer heat as the major reason for restricting events between June and the first half of September.

It pointed out that sporting events at other venues are restricted in conditions far less severe than in Death Valley, which straddles the Nevada-California border, and listed Occupational Safety and Health Administration and medical association guidelines recommending limits on physical activities at temperatures well below those in the park.

“Visitors have questioned why the park allows running events to take place during the hottest time of the summer, when they are advised not to engage in outdoor physical activity,” the report said. “By permitting events to take place during summer months, the park has provided a mixed message to park visitors and other users.”

In 2009, the Park Service tightened restrictions over everything from the number of participants to the volume of the public-address system at running events and other public gatherings, barring any activity that might cause damage, “unreasonably impair the atmosphere of peace and tranquility,” or conflict with other uses.

Kostman quoted Mark Twain in suggesting that he would find a way to keep the Badwater going.

“‘Reports of my death,’” he said, “‘have been greatly exaggerated.’”

Related:

Races in National Parks Could Become Rarer

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