Park Service Sued Over ‘Bioprospecting’ Pacts

The National Park Service was accused in a lawsuit of illegally selling off federal resources in secret contracts with biotech researchers, including San Diego-based Diversa Corp., who want to patent microbes from Yellowstone’s hot springs. The plaintiffs, including the International Center for Technology Assessment, argue that U.S. law prohibits any natural resources--from minerals to pine cones--from being removed from national parks. The federal lawsuit seeks to block pending contracts with Diversa. The deal could be worth millions to Diversa, but to date the Park Service has refused to disclose what kind of royalties it would receive as a result of the so-called bioprospecting for patents on the tiny organisms in the rare thermal pools. Diversa spokeswoman Linda Seaton said the company had no comment. A Park Service spokeswoman said the agency had not seen the lawsuit and had no response.