How 'bout that Yellowstone ruling?

[RobBob]

Last-minute move to revert to the Clinton plan of 1/2 the number of snowmobiles this winter...0 next winter.

 

Snowmobiles, jetskis, all whiny 2-stroke engines:

[Dru]

FUEL CELL SNOWMOBILES NOW!

 

silent & deadly for winter elk poaching

[iain]

the fat trolls in neon pink 1-piece suits were scaring the buffalo off cliffs and such

[Roger]

hell yeah. I like the part where the judge said that the Bush Administration reversal of the phase-out ignored the facts, and "was completely politically driven and result oriented." Nice to see a judge actually calling it like it is every now and then...

 

Judge Voids New Rule Allowing Snowmobiles in Yellowstone

 

Published: December 17, 2003

 

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 - On the eve of the winter snowmobile season in Yellowstone National Park, a federal district judge on Tuesday evening struck down the Bush administration's regulations permitting more than 950 snowmobiles a day in the park.

 

The judge, Emmet G. Sullivan, said the Clinton administration's decision to phase out snowmobile use in that sweeping landscape of canyons, geysers and jagged horizons had been arbitrarily reversed.

 

The ruling, while not unexpected, throws a new element of confusion into an annual ritual of snowmobiles converging at the park's four gates for the opening day of winter park touring.

 

With the latest rule invalidated, an earlier regulation holding the maximum number of machines to 493 in Yellowstone and 50 in nearby Grand Teton National Park and the road connecting the two goes into effect, a park spokeswoman said.

 

Next winter, she said, a full ban goes into effect if Judge Sullivan's ruling stands.

 

The ruling bristled with sharp characterizations of the Bush administration's actions.

 

"The gap between the decision made in 2001, and the decision made in 2003 is stark," Judge Sullivan wrote. "In 2001, the rule-making process culminated in a finding that snowmobiling so adversely impacted the wildlife and resources of the parks that all snowmobile use must be halted."

 

Judge Sullivan continued, "A scant three years later, the rule-making process culminated in the conclusion that nearly 1,000 snowmobiles will be allowed to enter the park each day."

 

The ruling included a footnote saying that "there is evidence in the record that there isn't an explanation for this change," and that the revised environmental impact statement "was completely politically driven and result oriented."

 

Judge Sullivan sent the relevant National Park Service decisions back for reconsideration.

 

Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton reacted to the judge's ruling by defending the Bush administration's decision, saying in a prepared statement that improvements in snowmobile technology and careful limitations had balanced the need for public enjoyment with that of resource conservation.

 

"The added Park Service restrictions of best-available technology and allowing a limited number of snowmobiles is a responsible approach and avoids a complete ban," Ms. Norton said.

 

The ruling was embraced by the environmental groups that sued to overturn the Bush administration snowmobile rule. The groups wanted to retain the snowmobile ban issued in 2000, which would have gone into effect over three years, with the final ban being instituted this winter.

 

"Yellowstone is where our country first said, `This is what our national parks mean to us.' " said Denis P. Galvin, a former deputy director of the National Park Service, in a statement released in collaboration with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, which, along with the Fund for Animals, appealed the ruling. "This ruling reaffirms that fundamental purpose."

 

But for men like Bill Howell of West Yellowstone, a co-owner of Yellowstone Arctic Cats and for three decades a snowmobiler and tour guide, the ruling was simply another blow to the tourist business that sustains the small town.

 

Speaking of the local economy, he said, "For the last few years it's been a downward spiral, because of this issue." He agreed that the moribund national economy might be part of the problem, but then said, "The majority of it, I'm positive, is because of confusion over whether the park is open or closed."

 

Six of the more than 50 motels in the area, close to the most-used Yellowstone entrance, went out of business in the past year, he said.

 

The federal lawyers defending the reversal of the snowmobile ban had urged Judge Sullivan to delay action until a final rule was issued. He agreed, and the government issued the rule on Thursday, six days before the start of the winter season. Judge Sullivan reacted testily on Monday when a lawyer for the Snowmobile Association suggested that it was unfair to act so close to the start of business for the snowmobile-dependent towns around the park.

 

The Interior Department in 2000 went ahead with the unusual general ban on snowmobiles, partly out of concern about the health of park rangers who had to wear gas masks to alleviate the snowmobile exhaust. There was also concern about the studies that showed the accommodations made for snowmobilers hurt Yellowstone wildlife.

 

One study showed that in the wake of the grooming of 180 miles of park roads to accommodate snowmobilers, the distribution of bison in the park "changed drastically" apparently as they chose to use the easily traversed paths rather than other routes that took them through deep snow.

 

However, the easily traversed paths also made it easier for them to reach the park's edges and stray onto nearby ranches.

[bunglehead]

Fucking liberals. It's our right as 'Merikans to ride our 2 stroke engines in our national parks. Oh wait...Oh...yeah...I think it sucks that they're in National Parks too....Guess I've been reading too much spray..

[catbirdseat]

That's bloody great news.

 

Here's some more good news: EPA drops plan to reverse wetlands protection.

[Rodchester]

I'm no bleeding heart, that's for sure....but I'm not a Republican either. I truely think that this is a good thing. I think too many bilers ruin winter in Yellowstone. As my wife says, let them ski in if they don't want to ride in a snow coach.

 

I guess I could accept a limited number on guided tours...but grooming 180 miles of trails is just too much. I say give the park a rest.

 

Too bad about business being negatively effected in West Yellowstone. That does suck.

 

But get over it.

[Dave_Schuldt]

This is indeed great news!!!!!!!!!

[Fairweather]

That's bloody great news.

 

Here's some more good news: EPA drops plan to reverse wetlands protection.

 

 

Is that a "good job President Bush" I hear coming from your keyboard, Catbird? Another story reports that he personally made this decision re wetlands.

[iain]

giving a thumbs up for not rolling back protection? bwahaha