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Snowmobile Limit in Yellowstone this Winter
By Jack Welch
BlueRibbon Coalition
expected, the Park Service last Thursday released an Environmental
Assessment (EA) that allows only 318 snowmobiles daily into Yellowstone
this winter. This allocation is not sufficient to provide for a viable winter
economy in gateway communities, and many visitors could be denied
access.
It should be noted that the Park Service's 2007 decision, following the
more robust Environmental Impact Statement process, determined that
540 daily snowmobile entries was an appropriate number. Jack Welch,
BlueRibbon Special Projects Consultant, stated, "More people should be
allowed in the Park, not less. People will be turned away this winter. This
is not because there is a biological or scientific reason to do so; it is
because winter visitors are caught in a game of politics and 318 is a
convenient number between 0 and 540."
There are a few brighter spots in the EA. The decision does allow 25
snowmobiles per day with no best available technology (BAT) or guiding
requirement to travel both directions on the Grassy Lake Road, providing
access to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. This accommodates
historical activity for snowmobilers who unload at Flagg Ranch and ride
the Grassy Lakes Road to Idaho, Island Park, and even West Yellowstone.
What will happen next? BlueRibbon and its pro-access partners in the
snowmobile community will continue to review and work with the Park
Service to provide a long term solution for "Winter Use" in Yellowstone.
In the meantime, we will review our options on this EA decision. The next
step in the process is for the Park Service to create an implementing rule
and have it published. That rule would be the governing regulation for
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for the 2009-2010 and
2010-2011 seasons. Finally, there remains the possibility that a courtroom
development could somehow change things. As always, we will continue
to post updates at www.saveyellowstonepark.com.
Remember, Yellowstone will open to the 2009-2010 season on December
15th!
By Jack Welch
BlueRibbon Coalition
expected, the Park Service last Thursday released an Environmental
Assessment (EA) that allows only 318 snowmobiles daily into Yellowstone
this winter. This allocation is not sufficient to provide for a viable winter
economy in gateway communities, and many visitors could be denied
access.
It should be noted that the Park Service's 2007 decision, following the
more robust Environmental Impact Statement process, determined that
540 daily snowmobile entries was an appropriate number. Jack Welch,
BlueRibbon Special Projects Consultant, stated, "More people should be
allowed in the Park, not less. People will be turned away this winter. This
is not because there is a biological or scientific reason to do so; it is
because winter visitors are caught in a game of politics and 318 is a
convenient number between 0 and 540."
There are a few brighter spots in the EA. The decision does allow 25
snowmobiles per day with no best available technology (BAT) or guiding
requirement to travel both directions on the Grassy Lake Road, providing
access to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. This accommodates
historical activity for snowmobilers who unload at Flagg Ranch and ride
the Grassy Lakes Road to Idaho, Island Park, and even West Yellowstone.
What will happen next? BlueRibbon and its pro-access partners in the
snowmobile community will continue to review and work with the Park
Service to provide a long term solution for "Winter Use" in Yellowstone.
In the meantime, we will review our options on this EA decision. The next
step in the process is for the Park Service to create an implementing rule
and have it published. That rule would be the governing regulation for
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for the 2009-2010 and
2010-2011 seasons. Finally, there remains the possibility that a courtroom
development could somehow change things. As always, we will continue
to post updates at www.saveyellowstonepark.com.
Remember, Yellowstone will open to the 2009-2010 season on December
15th!