This is an old threat, and maybe a new one. A year ago, Region 1 of the U.S. Forest Service was discussing what to do about WNS, if anything. Region 2 had issued their blanket cave closure the year before. Region 1 had discussions with Region 4, with whom they split the state of Idaho, and share smaller pieces of other states. They decided to back away from any closure order at that time.
I spoke to some Region 1 staff yesterday, as well as reporters, and it's unclear if there is anything imminent from Region 1. This story seemed more prompted by the Center for Biological Diversity's press release than anything else. Region 1's Regional Forester just left her position to go to DC. She's the one who decided not to pursue a closure order last year, and I'm told local cavers sent her a letter of appreciation upon her departure - a very nice gesture. The new Regional Forester begins her job June 1.
On the other hand, there are active discussions underway in Region 2 as their closure order is set to expire July 25. Something like what is described in the news story - permits, decon, and trip reports - are all being discussed.
Please remember that all Forest Service caves and mines in the entire U.S. are subject to the decon protocols as part of a national directive issued effective Oct. 1, 2010. The U.S. Forest Service also issued a directive to its entire system, called the WNS Interim Strategy (
http://www.caves.org/WNS/USFS%20Interim%20Strategy%207-10.pdf), which instructs its Forest Service staff to work with the caving community to identify and prioritize bat caves for protection, and to identify non-bat caves where recreational caving can continue.