Ranger Bob Jackson is expected to report back to his backcountry duty this week at Yellowstone National Park, after a confidential settlement agreement was reached last week.

The settlement closes the book on the second incident in the past two years in which Jackson has allegedly suffered retribution from the National Park Service for his whistleblowing activities. In both cases, a whistleblower advocacy group was able to shield Jackson from punitive actions - this time saving his job.

A native of Iowa, Jackson's case was also vigorously defended by U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

"It's time Ranger Jackson got back to work for his final season at Yellowstone," Grassley said in a prepared statement. "He's been through the wringer for no apparent reason other than speaking the truth about problems. I'm glad the National Park Service finally came to its senses to retain its longest-serving backcountry ranger."

The agreement announcement, released by the National Park Service and by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), said, "Pursuant to a confidential Settlement Agreement mutually negotiated between Mr. Jackson and the National Park Service, Mr. Jackson will return to Yellowstone National Park as a backcountry ranger in 2003 for his final season with the National Park Service." The National Park Service, PEER and Jackson are all bound by the agreement and said they could not comment further.

The settlement was brokered by the federal Office of Special Counsel, which handles federal whistleblower cases.

In April, the National Park Service notified Jackson that he would not be hired for the coming summer - despite the fact that Jackson has worked Yellowstone's backcountry for 24 years. Viewed alternatively as environmental hero or as a nosy buttinsky, Jackson has gained both fame and notoriety for his high-profile poaching arrests and exposing the problem of salt-baiting for elk on the southern boundary of Yellowstone.

Jackson was a central figure in a recent book about outfitter culture and abuses in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Authored by Gary Ferguson, "Hawk's Nest" was released in May by National Geographic Adventure Publications.

According to a whistleblower complaint filed in April by PEER, the decision not to rehire Jackson was in retaliation for his well-publicized criticisms of laxness by the Bridger-Teton National Forest in enforcing wilderness rules, particularly the practice by hunting outfitters of using salt to lure elk out of the park. Add the additional practice of quick-quartering, said Jackson in earlier interviews, and large amounts of meat are left at salt sites.

All that meat attracts grizzly bears out of the park, he said, which sets up disastrous conflicts between hungry bears and nervous hunters. Jackson believes grizzly bears are being killed in such encounters.

In prior interviews, Jackson said he hoped the ultimate settlement between himself and the National Park Service would allow him to both patrol the Thorofare area again, as well as teach other rangers the specialized skills needed in that environment.

Two years ago, PEER filed a similar whistleblower complaint on Jackson's behalf, after he was given an order not to speak publicly about Park Service issues. In response to that complaint, the Park Service rescinded its gag order, scheduled First Amendment training for its managers, deleted all derogatory information in Jackson's record and rehired him for the 2002 season.

"We are heartened that Bob Jackson has resumed his post in Yellowstone's backcountry," said Louisa Willcox, wild bears project director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "His vigilance and dedication to improving hunter practices so as to reduce human-bear conflicts are legendary. Now more than ever, hunters need to take responsibility to ensure clean camps, proper handling of game and human foods, and appropriate etiquette in the wilderness."

Michael Scott, director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, said it was important to have someone with Jackson's skills patrolling the Thorofare country, protecting elk and grizzly bears.