Take Action: Act Now to Protect Yellowstone in Winter

Thanks in large part to the groundswell of support from concerned citizens like you, Yellowstone has made a remarkable recovery from a decade ago when our nation's first national park looked, sounded and smelled more like a wild west race track than the winter sanctuary it was meant to be.

Fewer vehicles, commercial guiding requirements, and tighter restrictions on noise and emissions have led to a Yellowstone today that is cleaner, quieter, and far better for skiers and snowshoers and for the Park's iconic winter wildlife. However, those gains are only temporary until they are built into a long-term winter use plan.

Last month Park officials put forth a draft long-term plan for public comment. The proposed plan is on the right track, but it backslides in a couple of important areas.

Deadline for Public Comment is June 17. Please take a few minutes right now to write a personal letter using the sample letter and talking points below. Be sure to include information about your personal experience as a skier, snowshoer or quiet winter visitor to Yellowstone in winter.

Sample Letter:

Dear Superintendent Wenk:

As a skier [or snowshoer, winter hiker, etc.] who values the natural sights and sounds of Yellowstone in winter, I appreciate improvements to the Park's winter environment resulting from reduced motorized traffic, requirements for cleaner, quieter machines and commercial guiding of snowmobiles.

I applaud your commitment to a plan that leads to a cleaner, quieter Yellowstone and I appreciate your renewed emphasis on better services for skiers, snowshoers and other low-impact winter visitors by designating certain side roads as ski and snowshoe routes.

Your proposed rule has much to commend including more stringent noise and emission standards for all vehicles and reducing the park's winter speed limit to 35 mph on all transportation routes. However, I am deeply concerned that the proposed rule asks whether the very provisions you've stated are the foundation of your plan for a "cleaner and quieter Yellowstone" should be dropped, delayed or not required of all vehicles. Please do NOT backslide on these requirements!

More specifically:

Do not allow some snowmobiles to be noisier and dirtier than others. Instead, require ALL snowmobiles to meet the same high standards for noise and emissions.

The proposed rule makes clear that "racing snowmobiles, or operating a snowmobile in excess of 35 mph" will be prohibited. This standard must be maintained on all oversnow vehicle road segments for the safety of skiers, snowshoers and others and for the benefit of wildlife.

Implement "Best Available Technology" standards no later than the 2015-2016 season. Your own studies have determined these standards are essential to limiting air and noise pollution, especially given the increased numbers of vehicles allowed through your proposed "transportation events."

Please support better services for skiers and snowshoers by investigating the feasibility of a system of huts or yurts to accommodate non-motorized access to the Park's interior.