CHEYENNE - Federal Judge Alan Johnson said Friday he will rule on the motion for a preliminary injunction filed by National Parks Reservations Inc. (NPR) sometime this coming week.

Johnson presided for a two-day trial in the antitrust lawsuit against Xanterra, the company with exclusive concession rights in Yellowstone Park and other national parks.

NPR, a reservations clearing house for national parks based in Red Lodge, Mont., wants the injunction to block Xanterra from refusing its services.

Xanterra notified NPR on April 11, 2003, that it would no longer accept reservations from the company. Xanterra has continued to accept NPR reservations until the lawsuit is resolved.

NPR witnesses, including the company's chief executive officer, Stephen Brashear, said Xanterra is concerned about competition from NPR for the Yellowstone concessioner contract which comes up next year. Brashear said his company, which accepts reservations through an Internet web site and toll free phone system, would lose 61 percent of its business if Xanterra refuses its reservations.

Xanterra attorney Bradley Cave of Cheyenne on Thursday said NPR mistakes in reservations caused headaches for staff in its lodging facilities in Yellowstone and irritated its customers.

NPR maintains client complaints were minimal.