Star-Tribune Editorial Board
A temporary National Park Service plan to allow no more than 318 snowmobiles to enter Yellowstone daily is inadequate.
Each year that there is no acceptable, permanent plan, Yellowstone gateway communities suffer the business consequences. Visitors who had planned snowmobile trips to the park cancel their reservations out of frustration with the lack of certainty.
Has the Park Service forgotten that its mission includes making sure that people have access to Yellowstone throughout the year?
For the past four years a temporary plan has been in place, capping the daily number of snowmobiles at 720. Last winter's average was only 294 per day, so 318 might seem like a reasonable compromise.
But on some days, 400 to 500 machines entered the park. The snowmobile numbers exceeded the proposed 318 limit more than one-third of the days the park was open last winter. At West Yellowstone, operators were able to guide up to 400 snowmobiles daily through the West Gate. Under the temporary proposal, that has been cut to only 160 snowmobiles per day.
Based on the 720 limit set for the last four years -- as well as the Park Service's proposal earlier this year of 540 snowmobiles daily -- it was reasonable for operators to book reservations this winter for many more snowmobiles than will be allowed if the temporary plan is approved.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan of Washington, D.C., rejected the 540 plan in September. He said it would have failed to adequately protect the park's wildlife and air quality, among other things.
But conservation groups aren't even happy with the 318 limit. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition has said it would prefer snowmobiles be banned from the park, and only snowcoaches allowed.
If the temporary plan is approved, snowmobile operators will have lost a lot of ground that will never be regained. Many will not be able to stay in business with the reduced numbers, which means more visitors will be turned away from the park.
Until a permanent plan is finally approved by the federal court, the temporary limit of 720 should remain in place. Gateway businesses need to be able to plan their seasons with some consistency, which can't happen if the snowmobile numbers are routinely shifted downward.
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Comments to this story.
Marion wrote on Nov 9, 2008 5:26 AM:
fair is fair wrote on Nov 10, 2008 5:22 AM:
EdW wrote on Nov 10, 2008 9:53 AM:
WestWyo wrote on Nov 10, 2008 11:38 AM:
Frank N wrote on Nov 10, 2008 5:26 PM:
No where in the Park Service Mission Statement does it say, "...to provide year around access...". Nor does it say that a certain type (for example snow mobiles) access must be allowed. Many Parks including Denali and Grand Canyon have limited the TYPE of access allowed at different times of the year.
It should be obvious that you cannot replace a winter use plan that has been found unacceptable with an identical plan and not expect an immediate court challenge. It is a fact that wildlife is not as stressed in the summer time, and that pollution tends to be worse in the winter. "
Fair is Fair wrote on Nov 11, 2008 12:23 AM:
Court challange no problem with the anti snow mobile challange, anti ATV or the wolf court challange so why would that be an issue for this.
I would however add that everyone using any public land in any state ot territory should be required to have a conservation stamp to access said property. I do not hunt or fish yet i buy a conservation stamp every year because it supports a good cause. I also pack out what i take on to public land plus additional trash left by those who could care less and some of it is wolf related litrature. That alone is reason enough to make all access guided.
But none of the enviornmentalists actions directed toward snow mobiles or ATV's is about polution etc it is about I donot like it so I will get the court to ban it controll issue. You could care less who you hurt in the process and i am not discussing the buisness owners here.
Fair is Fair if one is to be banned relegated to coach/bus only then all others should as well and stop as much polution as possible and the stress on the wildlife regardless of stress impact according to time of year.
WestWyo i do believe the tourist would still come and would still spend money. "
Frank N wrote on Nov 11, 2008 5:33 PM:
Fair is Fair wrote on Nov 11, 2008 8:33 PM:
Frank N wrote on Nov 13, 2008 8:34 AM:
YNP4everyone wrote on Nov 16, 2008 12:28 PM:
Why aren't there monitors at the park intrance at Gardiner/Mammoth and along the highway to Cooke City showing the readings of normal automobile traffic with no snowmobile traffic during the winter months? Are they afraid to compare areas during the same season? "
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