Protecting visitor safety and enjoyment, air quality, wildlife and the natural quiet of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks were the determining factors in a decision to phase out most snowmobile use in the two parks over three years, in favor of multi-passenger snowcoaches, according to an announcement made today by Karen Wade, Intermountain Regional Director for the National Park Service.

Wade issued her decision in a formal "Record of Decision" which followed many years of study to determine what kind of winter activities were appropriate for Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. The Environmental Impact Statement which led to this Record of Decision was originally prompted by a lawsuit filed by the Fund for Animals and other organizations in 1997, but the process of creating a Winter Use Plan had started as far back as 1993.

"Our obligation in managing winter use in these parks is to ensure that public activities we allow conserve park resources and values for future generations. Unfortunately, snowmobiles have been shown to harm wildlife, air quality and the natural quiet of these parks," Wade said. "Phasing out snowmobiles while allowing access by snowcoaches will help us fulfill our responsibilities to future generations while at the same time providing a reasonable level of affordable access for winter visitors."

The Record of Decision, based on studies done for the Environmental Impact Statement, concludes that snowmobile use in these parks so adversely affects air quality, wildlife, natural soundscapes, and the enjoyment of other visitors that the resources and values of these parks are impaired. That is contrary to the mandate of the National Park Service Organic Act that parks be left "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Executive Orders issued by Presidents Nixon and Carter and the Service’s own regulation on snowmobile use also prohibits snowmobile use in national parks where it disturbs wildlife, damages park resources, or is inconsistent with the park’s natural, cultural, scenic, aesthetic values, safety considerations, or management objectives.

During the winter of 2000-2001, snowmobile use will continue under current rules. This is a change from Alternative G, identified as the preferred alternative in the environmental impact statement. Because any limits on snowmobile use will be adopted through a separate rulemaking process, no new limits could be established for this winter until near the end of the season, when there would be inadequate public notice of any changes.

Under the decision announced today, the National Park Service will propose changes to its regulations to establish interim limits in the winters of 2001-2002 and 2002-2003, and end most snowmobile use effective the winter of 2003-2004. Those changes will be proposed for public comment, and will not be finalized until public comments are received and considered.

For the winter of 2001-2002, the proposed new regulations will generally allow snowmobile use to continue at current levels, with daily use limits that will keep snowmobile numbers on the busiest peak days from exceeding historic peak-day levels. These limits will not reduce overall snowmobile use, but will keep the level of use on the busiest days from increasing. For the winter of 2002-2003, the proposed new regulations will establish daily use limits that are expected to lead to an approximately 50 percent reduction in snowmobiles entering Yellowstone’s South and West entrances. Current snowmobile use levels will remain the same at the East and North Entrances. Specifics of the phased plan are as follows:

o During the winter of 2000-2001:

• There would be no cap on snowmobile use.
• Prohibit oversnow motorized travel from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. except by authorization beginning December 18, 2000.

o During the winter of 2001-2002:

• Allow existing commercial snowcoach operators to increase their fleet size and encourage snowmobile rental businesses and other new operators to purchase or lease snowcoaches and reduce snowmobile numbers.
• Set daily snowmobile use numbers for all three park units at levels not to exceed the 7-year average for peak days. (See attached chart).
• For snowplane use on Jackson Lake, permits would be reissued to permit holders of record. No new permits would be issued.
• Prohibit oversnow motorized travel from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. except by authorization.

• During the winter of 2002-2003:

• Allow existing commercial snowcoach operators to continue to increase their fleet size and encourage snowmobile rental businesses and other new operators to purchase or lease snowcoaches and reduce snowmobile numbers.
• Set daily snowmobile use numbers for all three parks at levels that are expected to lead to an approximately 50 percent reduction in snowmobiles entering Yellowstone’s South and West Entrances levels.
• Allow current snowmobile use levels to continue at the East and North Entrances, on the Parkway’s Grassy Lake Road, and on the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail in Grand Teton and the Parkway.
• Snowmobiles in Yellowstone must be accompanied by an NPS-permitted guide and travel in groups of no more than eleven (including the guide).
• In Grand Teton and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway, the superintendent will be authorized to require groups and guides.
• Prohibit oversnow motorized travel from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. except by authorization.
• Snowmobile use would be eliminated within Grand Teton National Park except on the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail and on access routes leading to private lands and adjacent national forest lands.
• Snowplane use, as well as snowmobile use, would be discontinued on the frozen surface of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton.

• In 2003-2004 and thereafter, most oversnow motorized visitor travel in the three park units would be by NPS-managed snowcoach only. (NOTE: The term "NPS managed" refers to commercial permit management. In this case, the mass transportation snowcoach system would be provided by private businesses who operate under a concessions permit from the NPS. These permits are generally offered for competitive bidding in limited numbers and are granted for a specific number of years.) In Grand Teton, snowmobile use would continue to be allowed on access routes leading to private lands and adjacent national forest lands.

"We are sensitive to the economic impacts this decision will have on gateway communities which are highly dependent on winter use activities in these national parks," said Wade. "That is why we are phasing in this decision over the course of three years and working with those who want to operate snowcoaches to make their efforts as successful as possible. The parks are committed to working with the communities to help ease the difficulty of this transition, and to help market the winter enjoyment of these parks without the noise and other effects of snowmobiles."

The paper, "Distribution of Grizzly Bears in the U.S. Northern Rockies," was authored by Mike Bader of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, headquartered in Missoula, Montana.