Yosemite Expansion Violates Federal Law, Congressman Says

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (CBS / AP) -- A U.S. lawmaker says Yosemite National Park violated federal law by adding 400 acres to its boundary without clearing it through Congress.

Rep. Rob Bishop, a Republican from Utah who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, told The Associated Press in a statement Friday that the National Park Service "acted outside of its authority, and we will require them to account for their actions."

Yosemite officials announced this week that a nonprofit trust bought the land for $2.3 million and donated it to the park as a wildlife habitat. It marked Yosemite's largest expansion in 70 years.

Bishop says he doesn't want to give back the land but wants answers.

Federal law says Congress must approve land added to a national park that's over 200 acres and worth more than $750,000.

Yosemite spokesman Scott Gediman didn't immediately respond to request for comment.

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