ELY — An environmental group is suing the U.S. Forest Service alleging it’s allowed outfitters to run too many motorized boat trips in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Wilderness Watch wants the Forest Service to begin a new permitting process each season to ensure the motorized tow boats are at the legal limit.

Motorized access to the Boundary Waters has been an issue ever since legislation creating the wilderness area went into effect in 1979.