Bush to reverse ban on snowmobiles at two national parks

By John Heilprin
ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 12, 2002

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration plans to allow more snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks on average, while cutting numbers on the busiest days. The decision reverses one taken during the Clinton presidency that would have banned them by next winter.
There would be no limits on snowmobiles for the winter season beginning next month and running until mid-March, Interior Department officials said.
But starting in December 2003, no more than 1,100 snowmobiles a day would be allowed in the two popular Western parks together and a portion of the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway connecting them, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
For the past decade, the parks have had an average of 840 snowmobiles daily during the winter but up to 1,650 a day during holiday and other busy weekends. Both parks are in northwestern Wyoming, but Yellowstone also extends into Idaho and Montana, from where most snowmobilers enter the park.
The Interior Department planned to release an environmental impact statement today that details the proposal. The ceiling represents a compromise between unlimited access wanted by snowmobile makers and users and the ban sought by environmental groups and some Democrats in Congress.
"This is just a boon to the industry," said Kristen Brengel of The Wilderness Society, an environmental group. "This is not what the American public has been expecting."
Bill Dart, public lands director for Idaho-based Blue Ribbon Coalition, which advocates opening more public lands to recreational motor vehicles, said his group is satisfied with the peak-days ceiling, even though it might not reflect the popularity of snowmobiling in the parks in recent years.
"Clearly I don't think they're caving to industry," Dart said. "They're talking about one-third less numbers on peak days."
To minimize the impact and maximize safety, the regulations would require that 80 percent of the snowmobiles allowed in the two parks be led by commercial guides. Also, beginning next year commercially rented snowmobiles would have to have four-stroke engines, which are said to be quieter and cleaner. Private snowmobile owners could use traditional two-cycle engines until the 2004-2005 winter season.
No more than 950 snowmobiles would be allowed into Yellowstone National Park: 550 through the West entrance and 50 through the North entrance, both in Montana; and 250 through the South entrance and 100 through the East entrance, both in Wyoming.
Another 75 would be allowed into Grand Teton National Park through a snowmobile trail along the Continental Divide and 75 more from a road along the Rockefeller parkway.
The Interior Department officials said their plan is based on a belief that four-stroke engines can significantly cut noise and reduce emissions of hydrocarbons by 90 percent and carbon monoxide by 70 percent.
They left open the possibility of adjusting the caps based on results from air quality and noise monitoring stations that will be installed in the parks. University and state contractors will be hired to collect data on air quality, noise and the effect on wildlife.

Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.

Bush Reverses Snowmobile Rule
Parks to Limit Number on Peak Days

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40711-2002Nov11.html

By John Heilprin
Associated Press
Tuesday, November 12, 2002; Page A23

The Bush administration plans to allow more snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks on average, while cutting numbers on the busiest days. The decision reverses one taken during the Clinton presidency that would have banned them by next winter.

There would be no limits on snowmobiles for the winter season beginning next month and running until mid-March, Interior Department officials said.

But starting in December 2003, no more than 1,100 snowmobiles a day would be allowed in the two popular parks together and a portion of the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway connecting them, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

For the past decade, the parks have had an average of 840 snowmobiles daily during the winter but as many as 1,650 a day during holiday and other busy weekends. Both parks are in northwestern Wyoming, but Yellowstone also extends into Idaho and Montana.

Interior planned to release an environmental impact statement today that details the proposal. The ceiling represents a compromise between the unlimited access wanted by snowmobile makers and users and the ban sought by environmental groups and some Democrats in Congress.

"This is just a boon to the industry," said Kristen Brengel of the Wilderness Society, an environmental group. Bill Dart, public lands director for the Idaho-based Blue Ribbon Coalition, which advocates opening more public lands to recreational motor vehicles, said his group is satisfied with the peak-days ceiling, even though it might not reflect the rising popularity of snowmobiling in the parks in recent years.

"Clearly, I don't think they're caving to industry," Dart said. "They're talking about one-third less numbers on peak days."

To minimize the impact and maximize safety, the regulations would require that 80 percent of the snowmobiles allowed in the two parks be led by commercial guides. Also, beginning next year commercially rented snowmobiles would have to have four-stroke engines, which are said to be quieter and less polluting. Private snowmobile owners could use traditional two-cycle engines until the 2004-2005 winter season.

Interior officials said their plan is based on a belief that four-stroke engines can significantly cut noise and reduce emissions of hydrocarbons by 90 percent and carbon monoxide by 70 percent.

They left open the possibility of adjusting the caps based on results from air quality and noise monitoring stations that will be installed in the parks.

"This plan, in essence, stays away from the extremes," said Eric Ruff, an Interior Department spokesman. "It strikes a good balance. It protects resources and allows visitors a unique experience."

The Environmental Protection Agency recommended in 1999 that snowmobiles be barred from the two parks as the "best available protection" for air quality, wildlife and the health of people who work and visit there. Interior advanced that idea in the waning days of the Clinton administration.

The Bush administration ordered a new review as part of a settlement with snowmobile makers who challenged the proposed ban.

but, the eco freaks are still trying to get automobiles banned in the park. i live only 70 miles from yellowstone. if they close it to cars, how am i going to be able to get to jackson hole and over to idaho without having to travel 350 miles out of my way?

and its not only me, but thousands of people use the park to get to other destinations. is the government going to destroy thousands of acres of land to build a new road around the park?

most likely not! :(

Here in the Reno/Tahoe area they closed off most of a local area to snowmobiles. Now that area is non-motorized only. I want to know why they didn't ban cross country skies and snowshoers from the snowmobile area?

Originally posted by Simple Man
Here in the Reno/Tahoe area they closed off most of a local area to snowmobiles. Now that area is non-motorized only. I want to know why they didn't ban cross country skies and snowshoers from the snowmobile area?

More info: http://www.snowlands.org/issues/ohv/winter02.html

Out of 7 OHMVR commissioners, I think 3 of them are greenie's.

Jon

Nov. 18, 2002 -- Funding for grooming winter trails cut

By KEN PAGLIA Staff writer

Snowmobile and other motorized recreation businesses could be in jeopardy after the California Off-Highway Vehicle Commission voted last month to deny funding to groom snowmobile trails in three national forests. The funding cuts include 60 trails in the Eldorado National Forest, mostly in the Silver Bear trail system.

"I sense this is an issue of privately owned lands, and an environmental issue," said Anne Clayton, owner of Adventure Motor Sports in Shingle Springs. Clayton's store specializes in snowmobile and ATV sales and rental, and the funding cuts could be detrimental to her business if they cause a decline in motorized recreation.

OHVC commissioner John Brissenden, an outspoken advocate of the proposed funding cuts, recently came under fire from the Blue Ribbon Coalition for his "no" vote at last month's OHVC meeting. The BRC is a nationwide organization representing over 500,000 motorized recreationists and resource users. Organized in 1987, the BRC is a coalition of snowmobile, 4x4, ATV and off-highway motorcycle users. Their Oct.25 complaint was filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission and alleges that Brissenden, owner of Sorenson's Resort in Hope Valley, had a conflict of interest when he voted against trail funding because his resort caters to a non-motorized crowd.

Fewer snowmobiles near Sorenson's could mean higher business revenue for Brissenden.

But the commissioner denies these allegations, instead saying that he was opposed to the large proportion of money that in the past has been allocated to those trails which he voted to receive funding cuts.

"We have operators on many of those trails that make a living off of renting machinery or giving tours of the trails. In those cases we are heavily subsidizing private business, and I just don't think that's appropriate," said Brissenden.

"Furthermore, those trails typically take five to 10 times as much money as they contribute to the OHV program," he said.

The year-to-year grants used to fund the grooming of trailheads are competitive. This year the OHVC had $26 million in grant requests and only $16.4 million of funding.

A recent OHVC economic impact study estimates the business impact of not funding the trails to be $8.4 million, mostly affecting area snowmobile dealerships, inns, and restaurants. The study puts the business impact on Eldorado National Forest at $3.1 million, and estimates that 33 jobs will be lost.

Funding was also denied for snowmobile trails in the Humboldt-Toiyabe and Sequoia National Forests, and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Some Highway 50 corridor merchants who make their money from motorized recreation say the funding cuts could be a serious revenue threat; there have been rumors that some store owners may have to shut down.

But others, like Clayton, say the funding rejection is not a huge deal.

"Basically you can still ride the trails, they're just ungroomed. Beginner snowmobilers are going to have a harder time, and it could be more hazardous. But even if we lose a park with a groomed trail, it's usually easy to find one that is groomed," said Clayton.

"We won't necessarily lose business," she said.

The issue isn't resolved yet, and the grant money could still be up for grabs. The OHVC is currently considering bringing the grant issue up for reconsideration at their December meeting. If that were to happen, the public would be able to speak on the issue, and the commission would vote again on where to allocate the grant money.

http://www.mtdemocrat.com/display/inn_news/E1118_N3.txt