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Skiers Vow to End Yellowstone Snowmobiling Before Next Season

Despite Park Service Ruling, National Recreation Group Warns: 'It's Not Over'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2003

CONTACT: Ken Miller, Winter Wildlands Education and Outreach Coordinator, 208.344.8692, .

BOISE, ID — While the National Park Service pushes its scheme to let snowmobiles roam America's most beloved national park, America's skiers, snowshoers and other winter recreationists say it's time to defend Yellowstone from more damage caused by runaway snowmobile use.

"The Park Service's decision in March to let snowmobiles continue their assault on Yellowstone and to destroy the visitor experience for everyone else surprises no one, but it's important that all Americans keep in mind the campaign to protect Yellowstone is just beginning," Winter Wildlands Alliance Executive Director Sally Grimes said. "For the thousands of skiers who no longer feel welcome in the world's first national park, it's not over."

Winter Wildlands Alliance, the three-year-old national voice for skiers, snowshoers, and other non-motorized winter sports enthusiasts, gained attention last February when it brought skiers from around the nation for a "Stand Up for Yellowstone" rally to highlight the recreation side of the long-running snowmobile debate. The Boise-based recreation group has joined a national coalition of environmental and conservation groups working to overturn the Park Service's plan to not only keep snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, but also to allow more machines into the parks on some days.

"Another season of winter recreation has been ruined by this improper use of Yellowstone," Grimes said. "With another busy summer approaching, and with the Park Service having announced its plans to keep snowmobiles in Yellowstone, many Americans and many in Congress believe the issue is settled. In fact, it's just beginning.

"We've known all along where the Park Service was heading, but Congress has yet to address the issue. With more than 140 co-sponsors supporting the Yellowstone Protection Act (HR1130) in the House, we believe the overwhelming majority of Americans who spoke out against snowmobiles in Yellowstone can still have their voices heard and Congress will do what's best for this national treasure."

Winter Wildlands has joined such groups as The Wilderness Society, the National Parks Conservation Association, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, and the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition in campaigning to remove snowmobiles from the two parks, as recommended by the Park Service in 2000 and before the Park Service reversed itself after being sued by the snowmobile industry.

Winter Wildlands is joining those groups in Washington, D.C., this week to encourage more members of Congress to support the Yellowstone Protection Act.

"Our coalition partners have proven the Park Service got it right the first time when it joined the Environmental Protection Agency in conceding snowmobiles still threaten Yellowstone's natural resources, wildlife, and its own employees," Grimes said. "We think it's time Congress hears from human visitors as well. Not only does snowmobile pollution pose a public health risk to skiers and other visitors, they destroy the natural experience Yellowstone is supposed to provide all visitors."

With thousands of miles of groomed snowmobile trails surrounding Yellowstone, there are ample opportunities for snowmobilers to enjoy their sport without harming the park and ruining the visitor experience.

The Yellowstone Protection Act would simply implement the snowmobile ban first proposed by the Park Service in 2000. Grimes said the legislation is all the more important in the wake of two more years of Park Service studies that only underscored removing snowmobiles in favor of multi-passenger snowcoaches is the only way to reduce excessive carbon monoxide emissions, ongoing haze at Old Faithful and other popular sites, and endanger visitors and employees with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Beyond the obvious impacts to the parks, the administration's snowmobile scheme will cost taxpayers an extra $1.3 million a year while allowing environmental and other damage to continue.

Founded in 2000, Winter Wildlands Alliance works with grassroots groups across the country on local issues and is the only national organization working to protect a quality human-powered winter recreation experience. For more information, visit www.winterwildlands.org.

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