Issue:
Whether recreational snowmobile usage should be permanently banned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway (hereinafter, the "Park Units")?

Background:
Prior to 2000, approximately 80,000 recreational snowmobiles were used by visitors to the Park Units, resulting in air and water quality issues, disturbance to wildlife, and negatively impacting a significant number of visitors who wished to explore the majesty of a few of the finest natural places in this country in peace and solitude. In 2000, the National Park Service ("NPS"), after years of study, environmental and economic assessments and hundreds of thousands of public comments, banned the use of snowmobiles in the Park Units by the winter of 2003-2004. Subsequent to this decision, the snowmobile industry sued the Park Service, demanding that they review new information on reductions to snowmobile air emissions and sound output as well as any negative financial repercussions from such a ban on the communities outlying the Park Units. In settlement of this lawsuit, the NPS initiated a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study ("SEIS") to consider these limited issues. On May 28, 2002, RtE filed comments to the draft SEIS, objecting to the use of snowmobiles in the Park Units on legal and technical grounds and concluding that nothing in the new information submitted by the snowmobile industry warranted a reversal by the Park Service.

Despite receiving over 350,000 comments supporting the ban, the NPS issued a new Record of Decision, overturning the ban and then proceeded to undertake a Rulemaking to implement the recommendations in the Record of Decision. On October 13, 2003, RtE filed detailed comments in opposition to the proposed regulations. On December 11, 2003, the NPS issued a final regulation that implemented the new Record of Decision, despite overwhelming opposition to the proposed regulation expressed during the public comment period. The final regulation allowed up to 1,140 snowmobiles in the Park Units each day.

On December 16, 2003 a U.S. District Court judge issued a new ruling related to winter use in Yellowstone (162KB pdf). This ruling invalidated the Bush administration's plan to allow increased snowmobile use in the Park Units and required that the NPS implement the November 2000 decision to phase-out recreational snowmobiling in the Parks Units. On January 13, 2004, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia issued a per curiam order denying a stay of the December 16, 2003 decision of the District Court pending appeal.

On February 10, 2004, the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming issued a temporary injunction against the tougher 2000 rules reinstated by the December 16, 2003 decision of the D.C. District Court. The Wyoming District Court ordered the NPS to issue temporary rules for the remainder of the 2003-2004 winter season, which ends March 31. The Court stated that restrictions currently in place were causing irreparable harm to the local economy.

As a result of the contradictory District Court cases, on August 20, 2004, the NPS issued a Temporary Winter Use Environmental Assessment for the Parks along with a draft Finding of No Significant Impact. Under this Temporary Use Plan, the NPS will allow up to 720 snowmobiles to enter Yellowstone each day for the next 3 Winter Seasons. As many as 140 snowmobiles will be allowed in Grand Teton and the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Highway connecting the two parks. On Oct. 6, 2004, Rock the Earth filed comments with the NPS opposing the Temporary Use Plan, arguing that the NPS should have selected the alternative to ban snowmobiles from the Parks, as was decided after thorough study and public comment in 2000.

On March 27, 2007, the NPS issued a new DEIS, in essence, recommending the adoption of the Temporary Use Plan as the new, preferred alternative for a permanent Winter Use Plan for the Parks.

RtE Position:
Our position is that snowmobiles should be banned from the Park Units. Not only do snowmobiles devastate the natural environment of these sacred places, but the emissions and discharges from snowmobiles threaten both air and water quality. Further, NPS mandates restrict uses that impair or interfere with the atmosphere of peace and tranquility of the natural soundscapes maintained in wilderness. The use of snowmobiles in the Park Units violates federal law, regulations and NPS mandates and guidance.

Update:

On May 16, 2007, RtE filed formal comments with the NPS, urging a reconsideration of a permanent plan that allows for continued snowmobile use in the Park units. Rather, it is RtE's continued position that based on law and science, the 2000 plan should be adopted, eliminating snowmobiles from the Parks.

Links:

RtE-Snowmobile Letter 5-16-2007

Rock the Earth May 16, 2007 Comment Letter to the National Park Service regarding the 2007 Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

RtE-Snowmobile Letter 10-2004.pdf

Rock the Earth October 6, 2004 Comment Letter to the National Park Service regarding the Proposed Special Regulations Amending 36 CFR Part 7 (relating to Special Regulations, Areas of the National Park System) for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

RtE-SnowmobileLetter.doc

Rock the Earth October 13, 2003 Comment Letter to the National Park Service regarding the Proposed Special Regulations Amending 36 CFR Part 7 (relating to Special Regulations, Areas of the National Park System) for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

RtE-WinterUseLetter.doc

Rock the Earth May 28, 2002 Comment Letter to the National Park Service regarding the the Winter Use Plans, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement ("SEIS") for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

RtE-National Park-Winter Use Fact Sheet (PDF)

National Park-Winter Use Fact Sheet prepared by Rock the Earth

Yellowstone NP (pdf)
Grand Teton NP and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway (pdf)

February 11, 2004 Department of Interior Temporary Regulations.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/technical/planning/winteruse/plan/finalrule.pdf

December 11, 2003, Regulation Implementing the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

http://www.planning.nps.gov/document/yellrodwinteruse.pdf

2000 Winter Use Plan, Record of Decision, banning snowmobiles from the Park Units.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/orientation/index.htm

Yellowstone Interactive Map

http://www.greateryellowstone.org/

Greater Yellowstone Coalition