Vol 3, # 91

   Monday, October 25, 1999

YELLOWSTONE
WEATHER
Highs 50s, Lows 10s
Partly Sunny

   

Yellowstone Net Home Page
 

ROAD REPORT
Some road
construction
delays.
 

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Within the past month, representatives of several Native American tribes have told Park Service officials that they want a greater voice in the management of Yellowstone National Park.  Native American leaders have voiced a similar desire in regards to Glacier National Park.

According to some Native American leaders, 19th-century treaties with at least seven tribes grant their members certain rights within Yellowstone National Park, including hunting rights on traditional hunting grounds.

Hunting in Yellowstone is illegal for everyone, and anyone caught in the act of hunting can be ticketed or arrested.   Yellowstone officials believe the strict ban against hunting should continue, despite the claims of some Native American leaders.

Yet, much of the ongoing discussion between Yellowstone officials and Native American leaders centers around bison issues, with Native American leaders wanting brucellosis-free surplus bison distributed to tribes as part of a long-term bison management plan which would cap bison numbers at 3000 within the Park.

Although hunting will likely never be allowed within Yellowstone, the Native American bison issue proposal will likely get some attention in the ongoing and lengthy discussions between government agencies and private groups regarding bison and brucellosis.

Voice your opinion to your congresspersons and editorial sections of magazines and newspapers by clicking here.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS

Ralph Maughan
Kim Steinbacher
Kevin Sanders
Steve Brashear
Clint Wilkes
Tim Gourley
Hon. Bob Gammage
Ruth Colter-Frick
Lee Whittlesey
Tom Mazzarisi
Russ Finley
David Monteith
Denise Elmer
Dr. Bob Bara

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. (YNET) -- A regional meeting pertaining to the National Park Service's proposal for dealing with Yellowstone's "Winter Use" issues turned into a venue for stressing the local economy of one of Yellowstone's gateway communities, rather than advocating protection of Yellowstone National Park.

This past Thursday in West Yellowstone, Montana, Park Service officials listened as citizens voiced concern that eliminating snowmobiles from Yellowstone's West entrance to Old Faithful would devastate the local economy.  Meanwhile, Yellowstone Superintendent Mike Finley noted that many local residents are unwilling to admit that the Park is being harmed by snowmobiles.

Snowmobiling was introduced in Yellowstone in the 1960s, and since that time some gateway communities, most notably West Yellowstone, have used snowmobilings growing popularity as the primary basis for economic stability and growth during the winter months.  Some local residents feel that the many hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails outside the Park which originate from West Yellowstone will not be enough to maintain the winter economy if the West entrance of the Park is closed to snowmobiles.  Nonetheless, most all of the parties involved do recognize that something will have to be done to reduce the harmful effect of snowmobiles upon Yellowstone National Park. 

The remaining dates of the series of meetings that have been scheduled to accept public comment on the Draft Winter Use Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway are as follows:

October 26 - Cody, WY
Cody Auditorium
1240 Beck Ave

October 28 - Jackson, WY
Teton County Library
Auditorium
125 Virginian Lane

November 3 - Lakewood, CO
4 Points Denver West Hotel
137 Union Boulevard

All meetings will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the exception of the Livingston meeting which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. -- Work crews are clearing a small strand of lodgepole pines in Lake Village to make room for a new recreational vehicle parking site that will accommodate 80 units.  These part-time homes will be available to Amfac employees, Yellowstone's largest concessionaire.   Many of the workers who will utilize the new RV park are senior citizens who bring their RVs to the Park during the summer season.  The RV park is scheduled for completion in 2001.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has earned applause from conservation groups for gaining approval of a measure that will result in a quieter Grand Canyon.  During a House-Senate conference on a massive bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), McCain won approval of an amendment that requires the FAA to come up with clear standards for "quiet technology" for tour operators that fly over the Grand Canyon. 

Currently 117,000 air tour flights pass over the Grand Canyon every year, affecting the quality of the visitor experience and drowning out the natural sounds that are a unique part of the canyon's character.  The amendment language was hard fought but seeks a middle ground that both conservationists and the air tour industry can accept and support.

"Senator McCain has demonstrated his willingness to bring two sides together over a very difficult issue.  His advocacy of quiet technology will over time make a difference in how park visitors see and hear the Canyon," said Tom Kiernan, President of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).

Added Geoff Barnard, President of Grand Canyon Trust, "Senator McCain has retaken the hill and once again served notice that he is serious about his defense of the Grand Canyon."

The final amendment emerged after days of discussion over the role that quieter aircraft can play in meeting the requirement of "substantial restoration" of natural quiet as required by law.  Said Bill Meadows, President of The Wilderness Society, "no one will argue that the past few days have been tough and full of questions.  Nonetheless, we are all gratified to see that Senator McCain remains a committed advocate for the protection and long term interests of Grand Canyon National Park."

The broader bill also includes language that structures requirements for dealing with air tour operations over national parks across the country.  Under this structure, the FAA and the National Park Service must develop Air Tour Management Plans that will govern if, where, when and how air tour operators can fly over parks.  According to a recent NPCA survey of park managers, air tours operate over 100 units of the National Park System.

NPCA, Grand Canyon Trust and The Wilderness Society have all been involved in efforts to bring the federal government in compliance with The National Parks Overflights Act of 1987.  That law called for "substantial restoration" of the natural quiet and experience of the park and protection of public health and safety from adverse effects associated with aircraft overflights at the Grand Canyon.

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