Yellowstone Snowmobile Plan Melts Away

Judge Throws Out Plan To Allow 500 Snowmobiles A Day Into Park, Citing Pollution And Wildlife

(AP)  A federal judge on Monday threw out plans to allow more than 500 snowmobiles a day into Yellowstone National Park, saying that many snowmobiles would increase air pollution, disturb wildlife and cause too much noise in the nation's first national park.

The National Park Service's Winter Use Plan would have allowed 540 snowmobiles to go through in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway every day, starting this winter.

"According to NPS's own data, the (plan) will increase air pollution, exceed the use levels recommended by NPS biologists to protect wildlife, and cause major adverse impacts to the natural soundscape in Yellowstone," U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said in an order Monday.

Conservationists sued the National Parks Service to stop the plan, saying snowmobiling in the park causes noise and air pollution. They want snowmobiling eliminated in the park, or at least reduced.

Park officials said they averaged about 290 snowmobiles a day in 2006, the most recent number available. Conservationists argued that allowing 540 snowmobiles, a cap higher than that average, would not help solve the park's problems.

"This ruling will restore the quiet and the clean air in Yellowstone for everyone to enjoy," said Amy McNamara, director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition national parks program.

Added Kristen Brengel, director of the Wilderness Society: "The park deserves to be protected from noise, harm to wildlife and poor air quality."

The judge said letting in the proposed number of snowmobiles "elevates use over conservation of park resources and values." The National Park Service "fails to articulate why the plan's 'major adverse impacts' are 'necessary and appropriate to fulfill the purposes of the park,"' Sullivan said in his order.

The National Park Service must redo the plan, Sullivan said.

Parks spokesman Al Nash said the agency will review Sullivan's decision.

The next winter season begins on Dec. 15. "Our goal is to review this and to see how we move forward for this coming winter," Nash said.

In the late 1990s, as many as 1,400 snowmobiles a day visited Yellowstone, contributing noise and air pollution that critics in Congress and elsewhere said was inappropriate for the country's first national park.

[ahrats]

What about the rest of the year? is park service going to limit how many people visit the park in the RV''s, SUV''s or cars? Don''t they pollute the air also and create noise? I''m sure those that snowmobile through the park do it according to park regulations. Yes I agree there should be a limit but how often does one get to see this area in winter. What if the snowmobiles were electric or used natural gas in stead of gasoline? This seams to be one of the only area this present adminstration cares to regulate.

[yelstne]

Well as a guide in Yellowstone National Park, WY summer and winter for aprox. 14 years would love to tell everyone that the conservation groups along with the press is leading you the wrong way! The reports are done by friends of mine in the National Park and the results haven''t been shown to be towards the negative at all(ie... pollution, noise, bothering the wildlife). I would also like to know if Sullivan or Wlderness Society has
even been here in winter? I know that GYC hasn''t been, for I have attended meetings that they claim to have knowledge of what goes on in the park, but hasn''t been in to experience a snowmobile trip. This is just their first step in trying to close down the National Parks in winter then they will try to regulate summer, and let''s not forget the forest service of which they have already been limiting with atv''s, mountain biking, horseback riding. When does it end? Who will care about the parks if they are closed and no one can enjoy them? For the Benefit and Enjoyment of all people!

[thevicar1]

It is absolutely CRITICAL that we stay away from these beautiful parts of the world, so that they can be preserved for FUTURE generations to stay away from!!!

[lovesamerica]

When people go into the wilds of the parks on snowmobiles,they interupt the natural order of things. Summer visitors are generally on the roads and trails dedicated for viewing the park. Snowmobils go where the animals live, keep them all out of the parks!

[yelstne]

Again most of you are speaking about your areas and not Yellowstone!!! I am not a fat slob, very thin model figure and your not aloud to drink in the National Parks while operating vehicles..especially snowmobiles while being guided thru Yellowstone. We are only aloud on roads that the animals travel for 100''s of years along with people and have become acustom........even the reports have proven that! Before any of you speak....like the GYC, be correctly informed/educated first. I wouldn''t speak on any matters that I have no idea about, like I used too before I lived out here in Yellowstone Country for 20 years and thought living in the city, I was informed by my conservation groups and was lied to, so they can collect your money! There is a healthy balance people, we can live and enjoy nature with a balance! Not all one way or another!

[tflodeen]

To the person who wrote this comment. "Most snowmobiles are just fat slobs too fat to get off their fat butts to walk and enjoy our natural areas as God made them.
Posted by masterballs2 at 06:04 PM : Sep 15, 2008

Sorry to tell you but not all snowmobilers are are fat slobs and are too fat to get off their fat butts to walk and enjoy nature. Also, not all snowmobilers leave trash everywhere. This comment is like saying all environmentalits are affraid of having any kind of fun and are trying to ruin what others actually do enjoy. Some of those people who snowmobile are hadicapped. Are you saying they should ge off their fat, lazy ***** and start hiking around in the woods. See, that''s just wrong.

I am a wildland firefighter and I snowmobile. I also hike my butt off in the summer months putting out quite a few human caused forest fires. Which by the way cause more descruction of nature than any one snowmobilers could ever do. So I take offence to people like you who have to stereo type others in such a rude and disrespectful way. So next time you want to point a finger at a specific group of people because they actually enjoy something you don''t, maybe you should point it at your self.

[tflodeen]

To the person who wroe this comment
"When people go into the wilds of the parks on snowmobiles,they interupt the natural order of things. Summer visitors are generally on the roads and trails dedicated for viewing the park. Snowmobils go where the animals live, keep them all out of the parks!
Posted by lovesamerica at 04:30 PM : Sep 15, 2008

I am sorry, but I have snowmobiled in Yellowstone NP and a lot of the animals who are there in the summer are not there in the winter months. Snowmobilers have to stay on the same main roadways that vehicles drive on in the summer months, those are the only roads that are groomed by the park. Yes, I know there are a few people who ride snowmobiles that don''t follow the rules--they are the ones who ruin for the rest of us who do. I still think that everyone should be allowed to enjoy our National Parks as long as they respect the land and the rules.

[yelstne]

I also am very much an avid hiker in summer..ohhh and by the way cross country ski as well! Can you say EPOKE 900! and also a set of Black Diamond Tele skii''s with SKINS! but of course, that would mean that I am getting to much into the backcountry with those and disturbing the wildlife! I have also helped out the cross country skiers with a snowmobile tour one day that were in need of help. We gave them rides back to Old Faithful and they said "these aren''t as bad as I thought, Thank You!

[yelstne]

Unless you have been here in winter and are as passionate as me and many other snowmobile guides, please come see what it is about first before you are so critical of something that is one of the most incredible experiences....a once maybe in a lifetime to experience in the winter of Yellowstone. Winter is our favorite, to experience the peace and quiet, the wildlife and understand what they go thru in winter foraging for food, and the respect we give them and the park. I have had many tours with only 10 sleds are we aloud to 1 guide at a time, we shut down the 4 cycle sleds everytime we stop, to take photo''s or hear a guide tell of the history or wildlife we are viewing. The tours only go from usually 9am to 5pm. We come across animals of the road or on the road we go 5-8mph as a single file group without stopping to take photo''s or disturbing mostly just bison, for you know that MOST of the wildlife are either hibernating or they have migrated out of the park in the winter! If anyone has any serious questions in regards to winter in Yellowstone please let me help you understand what really happens!

[lindatc-2009]

I have had the great pleasure of traveling through Yellowstone in the winter on a snowmobile. I cannot believe some "Judge" is having an issue. Who is buying him off? Perhaps the conservation groups. We who love Yellowstone in the winter (as well as the summer) can honestly say that there really is no type of impact on the animals. Most of the animals do not stay there in the winter. Also, I have to laugh that all of a sudden all of the animals are just hanging around the roadways. Be Serious! Why not read the real reports that show the truth!Just for your info - snowmobiles are not allowed nor do they leave the designated pathways - animals alway have the right of way and are totally treated with respect. As for the the fat slob comment, you must have been referring to yourself - go have another twinkie! It would be a very sad day if this law would take effect. I am looking forward to seeing God''s country this winter.

[lmartink]

Did the comment below mention liking the peace and quiet --- on a snow machine? Amazing.

[yelstne]

Yes it''s true! How many times have you been there lmartink? Have you tried the snowcoaches...they are a little louder....or how about the summer..hmmm really hard to hear over all the diesels, motorcycles. Guess we should close all the parks because of all the pollution and noise! LOL

[rwsmith29456]

290 snowmobiles are 290 too many. If you enjoy the park so much in winter, you should hike or ski.

[aerhed]

Dude, It''s a big park. Anyway, I don''t mind winter park access. Like they say, it''s amazing. I just don''t like NOISE! Stupid sleds are noisy. I wish they were electric but could you imagine how doggy they''d be?

[yelstne]

rwsmith been here??? why so negative?? 2.2 million acres...740, seems like nothing in the park. Again why don''t we just shut down your trails? This is a great way, not the only to enjoy the park that is environmentally friendly. NPS has bent so much, 4 cycles machines, guided, with rules and regulations we all follow and respect. The park is a privlage for all of us not just you.

[sumose]

I live in moab Utah, It is the same thing here. The few rune it for the many.

[airboatboy1]

I guess the bumper to bumper traffic in the summer has no effect on the wildlife or environment.

[cfin5]

I agree. Keep the high powered toys out because they''re irritating to someone wanting to have a good time relaxing. They don''t sell sound tracks of "Snowmobiles Going Berserk" do they? They have their place,.....but not there.

[displeased]

Guess we should close all the parks because of all the pollution and noise! LOL
Posted by Yelstne

I think travel in national parks should be natural. Hike, paddle, ski, backpack...save the gas powered toys for designated parks. That way they can keep all their noise and diesel to themselves.

[yelstne]

bob5ford again you are talking about your area. the area in question is Yellowstone. You are making a generalization! There is no rv''s here in the winter and the park has hours of which we can be on the roads....not off trail and to the others we don''t use diesel, they are 4cycles. Again I invite everyone to know what they are talking about before they are so crtitical. I will be happy to help.

[standlee5]

Bravo!

[tashunka1876]

Awesome!! Best news I''ve heard in a long time.

[tashunka1876]

Awesome!! Best news I''ve heard in a long time.

[displeased]

I hunt, fish, 4-wheel, snowmobile and do it all respectfully. stay on your groomed trails and stop at KFC on the way home. and oh yeah... S T F U
Posted by biger-e

Spoken like a true country boy. Have you ever been in the wilderness without the use of machinery? Have you ever been backpacking or canoeing? Probably not because you need machinery to haul your fat a$$ around. I''ve been to parks designated for atv''s and off road vehicles. The parks are loud and littered with soda and beer bottles, signifying the laziness you folks promote. And just who are you being respectful to as you come careening down the trail in your motorized vehicle. Perhaps YOU should S T F U and keep your toys where they belong.

[biger-e]

displeased,
I just love the assumtions you make. I happen to live in the city. I own a few peices of land in the northwoods. I go on several canoe/camping trips a year, backpack in on hunting trips for days at a time, sometimes in the snowshoes. I do a majority of my fourwheeling on private land. I realize there are the a--holes out there but I don''t need someone like you tellng me how to appreciate the wilderness. I assure you that I appreciate it just fine and am offended by your mouths telling me how to live more than the sound of a snowmobile. My rights get put aside because some people break the rules? If they regulate these things and let enforcement deal with the offenders we can both enjoy it the way we like. By the way, I have one canoe trip I used to take every year that I don''t take anymore because of the loud, drunkin fools (in canoes) that have repeatedly spoiled that one. a canoe does not necessarily make a good outdoorsman. Maybe a Kayak though ;-)

[thinkharder-]

Perhaps YOU should S T F U and keep your toys where they belong.


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Posted by Displeased at 02:03 PM : Sep 16, 2008

I second that!! If you want to be loud and obnoxious, do it in your own church...stay out of mine!!

[biger-e]

Thinkharder,
Who said anything about loud and obnoxious? perhaps you should "thinkharder". What makes it just your church and not mine? This is the BS I am talking about. you just provde my point for me. thanks

[displeased]

My rights get put aside because some people break the rules?
Posted by biger-e

You''re right biger-e, I was making assumptions about you, only based on my past experiences. The local ski resort I frequent is rather small so they combine the X-country trail with the snowmobile trail. It gets old stepping aside to allow them to blow by revving their engines and jumping any humps they see. In regards to atv''s, I''ve gotten several complaints from the AT section I maintain about atv''ers raising helll and illegally running the trail at night so that the hikers can wake up the next morning to find their water source filled with dead tadpoles and brown water. Like you said, it only takes a few a-holes to ruin it for everybody else.

[biger-e]

Thank you displeased. I get as angry as anyone when those few make the rest of us look bad. I am sorry you have had bad experiences and wish you many good ones in the future.

[thinkharder-]

Thinkharder,
Who said anything about loud and obnoxious? perhaps you should "thinkharder". What makes it just your church and not mine? This is the BS I am talking about. you just provde my point for me. thanks


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Posted by biger-e at 02:30 PM : Sep 16, 2008

Are snowmobiles loud? Yes...Are snowmobilers obnoxious...not always...I apologize for the generalization, but from experience and a lot of time camping and hiking in the White Mts. of NH, I can say that the majority of the snowmobilers I raan into around there were in fact quite obnoxious. This is the thing...you have park set aside for you to do what you do. Yellowstone is historically a massive nature preserve and sanctuary for solitude for those of us who enjoy the nature as much for its serenity and grandeur as we do for it sheer size and avalability to lend itself to outdoor motor sports. You don''t need yellowstone...bottom line. You look at it as a vista to conquer...and untapped motorrized transport mecca...look again. There is sleepy wildlife and an already damaged air quality. why make it worse?

[thinkharder-]

Posted by biger-e at 02:30 PM : Sep 16, 2008

OH...and perhaps you do view it as something of a church...do you ride ATV''s and snowmobiles in your local sanctuary? Probably not, why...because its disrespectful...

[yelstne]

Thinkharder Yellowstone is not a quest and if again you have been here you would know that snowmobiling has been in the park since the 1950''s! This is a way for people like you to see and enjoy the park as it has been done for years and years. The "sleepy" wildlife I would assume you mean bears are up on the north face slopes around 8-10,000 ft range NOWHERE NEAR any snowmobiles at all. GEES...How many times do I have to say, if you never been here in winter to visit, live and to learn.......well then NO Comment would be best. Sorry you have problems in NH, we don''t here in Yellowstone and nor do we need any that are created by people who lie and have NO ground to stand on! PROOF IN THA PUDDIN....understand?

Come and learn and find out this winter when we actually have a winter season, when the decision gets knocked down in court this week! I would love to show you if you have an OPEN mind!