Reply #2: Turns out, part of this story is a hoax

[Ian David]

See:

Fact Checking 101: How Skeptic magazine was Duped by an Environmental Activist Group
by Michael Shermer (of Skeptic Magazine)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=247&topic_id=8382&mesg_id=8382


<snip>

Unfortunately, in our eagerness to find additional examples of the inappropriate intrusion of religion in American public life (as if we actually needed more), we accepted this claim by PEER without calling the National Park Service (NPS) or the Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP) to check it. As a testimony to the quality of our readers, however, dozens immediately phoned both NPS and GCNP, only to discover that the claim is absolutely false. Callers were told that the Grand Canyon is millions of years old, that no one is being pressured from Bush administration appointees — or by anyone else — to withhold scientific information, and all were referred to a statement by David Barna, Chief of Public Affairs, National Park Service as to the park’s official position. “Therefore, our interpretive talks, way-side exhibits, visitor center films, etc. use the following explanation for the age of the geologic features at Grand Canyon,” the document explains.

<snip>

The reference to the creationism book being sold in the Grand Canyon bookstore — Grand Canyon: A Different View by Tom Vail — is true. It is sold in the “inspiration” section of the bookstore, alongside other books of myth and spirituality. In any case, the story is an old one now, and completely irrelevant to the claim that NPS employees are withholding information about the age of the canyon, and/or are being pressured to do so by Bush administration appointees.

More:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=247&topic_id=8382&mesg_id=8382