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MONDAY
July 9, 2001
Vol 5, # 61

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Last week we featured some of the current projects of the Yellowstone Park Foundation (www.ypf.org), a non-profit organization which utilizes donations from individuals and corporations to accomplish projects which are unable to be funded through Yellowstone National Park's budget. 

The Yellowstone Park Foundation depends upon donations from individuals throughout the world.  The Foundation has established the following "Giving Levels," based on yearly donations.  Benefits of each level are also included:

Contributor ($25) -- Name displayed in the Yellowstone National Park Honor Book at the Old Faithful Visitor Center for one year.

Supporter ($50) -- Same as Contributor, plus Christmas music by Grammy Award winner Mannheim Steamroller (optional).

Guardian ($100) -- Name displayed in the Yellowstone National Park Honor Book at the Old Faithful Visitor Center for one year, and a Yellowstone baseball cap.

Protector ($500) -- Name displayed in the Yellowstone National Park Honor Book at the Old Faithful Visitor Center for one year, and TheNew York Times- acclaimed book A Yellowstone Album.

Steward ($1000) -- Name displayed on the Yellowstone National Park Wall of Honor, TheNew York Times-acclaimed book A Yellowstone Album, invitations to Yellowstone's and the Foundation's special events, and a National Parks Pass which allows you free access to all national parks for one year.

Patron ($10,000) --  Same as Steward.

Benefactor ($50,000 within five years) -- Same as Patron plus name permanently displayed on the Yellowstone National Park Wall of Honor at Old Faithful, the most heavily visited area of the park.

Your donation to the Yellowstone Park Foundation will help protect and preserve Yellowstone today and for future generations. You can donate online, through the mail, or by phone.  Go to www.ypf.org for more information on how to make your donation.

(Yellowstone Net provides you opportunity to voice your opinion regarding the various Yellowstone issues to your congresspersons and to editorial sections of magazines and newspapers by clicking here.)

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS

Russ Finley
Ralph Maughan
Kim Steinbacher
Steve Brashear
Clint Wilkes
Hon. Bob Gammage
Lee Whittlesey
David Monteith
Denise Elmer
Dr. Bob Bara
Matthew McLean

SNOWMOBILE SETTLEMENT REACHED
by National Park Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPS) -- The Department of the Interior announced today that a settlement agreement has been reached in a lawsuit between the Department and the State of Wyoming, snowmobile manufacturers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The settlement addresses concerns about the process used to develop the rule banning snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. The agreement will result in a stay in the lawsuit. 

"This settlement guarantees that local communities, business owners and others who have told us their voices weren't sufficiently heard during the rushed snowmobile ban rulemaking process will have an opportunity for comment" said Mark Pfeifle, Interior Department's Press Secretary. "This Administration feels strongly that greater local input, new information, scientific data and economic analysis and wider public involvement can only lead to better, more-informed decisions." 

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the National Park Service will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The States of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho as well as affected counties, the U.S. Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Agency will be invited to participate as cooperating agencies in the SEIS process. The National Park Service will initiate the SEIS as soon as the settlement has been approved by the Court. 

The timetable agreed to in the settlement is as follows: the National Park Service will complete and publish a draft SEIS by January 21, 2002, and provide printed copies of the draft SEIS and publish in the Federal Register any proposed modifications or changes to existing regulations by March 15, 2002. A final SEIS will be issued by October 15, 2002. If necessary, a Record of Decision and final regulations would be promulgated by November 15, 2002. 

The existing rule will remain in effect. After the SEIS process is completed, the Department may modify the existing rule with additional limits or exceptions. 

At the present time, snowmobiling is only permitted on groomed trails on the surface of existing roads, and only on a limited number of the roads used by motorized vehicles, in other seasons, in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the Rockefeller Memorial Parkway.

"The Interior Department will continue to work with all interested people - including environmentalists, local communities and snowmobile enthusiasts during the months ahead," Pfeifle explained. "Ultimately, recreational use of snowmobiles in National Parks will only continue if the cherished environment and natural resource values are protected for the enjoyment of our children and future generations of Americans."

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (GYC) -- Weeks of carefully-staged media events in America’s National Parks gave way to real policy today as the Bush administration undercut a decision by the National Park Service to protect Yellowstone from damage caused by snowmobiles.

In a deal struck with lawyers who sued on behalf of Ski-Doo, Polaris, Arctic Cat, and Yamaha, the administration today threw a cloud of uncertainty over its commitment to upholding the law and protecting Yellowstone.

Based on 13 years of scientific study and three years of nationwide public comment, the Park Service concluded last year that snowmobile use is harming Yellowstone’s unique environment, threatening park wildlife and public safety, and diminishing the experience of visitors who have difficulty escaping the machines’ noise and exhaust.

"This is a sad day for Yellowstone and a disheartening moment for good government," said Kristen Brengel of The Wilderness Society. "For three years, citizens throughout the country have urged the Park Service to uphold the law and protect Yellowstone by ending the damage caused by snowmobiles. Today, in one of our nation’s most cherished sanctuaries, the Bush administration has opted for government of, by, and for industry."

By ignoring the Park Service decision, the administration also dismissed a strong warning from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA reviewed scientific studies conducted in Yellowstone by universities, government agencies, and the snowmobile industry itself, and concluded that snowmobile use in Yellowstone is threatening the environmental and human health. Park damage caused by snowmobiles includes:

• Buffalo, elk, and other wildlife routinely forced from busy road corridors, placing stress on animals that are struggling to survive Yellowstone’s harsh winters;
• Obliteration of Yellowstone’s quiet. Visitors often struggle to hear eruptions of geysers through the buzz, whine, and roar of snowmobile engines;
• Rangers and visitors getting sick from breathing snowmobile exhaust. Headaches, nausea, watering eyes, and sore throats have been attributed to unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide.

"Sadly, the Bush administration’s sellout of Yellowstone to the snowmobile industry overrides the professional judgement of park rangers and the men and women charged with ensuring the health of our environment nationwide," said Sean Smith, Public Lands Director for Bluewater Network and former Yellowstone Park ranger.

The Bush-industry deal contradicts public opinion, a written admonition from senators in both political parties, and concerns underscored recently by former Yellowstone National Park Superintendent, Mike Finley.

In a speech on June 9th in West Yellowstone, Montana, Finley explained, "Had the Park been asked, we would have resisted settlement and sought a vigorous defense. We were not asked. In over six and a half years at Yellowstone, I was involved in every major and minor lawsuit. I was consulted…This is the first time the opinion of the Park was not sought, or solicited, or considered by the administration."

On May 15, eleven senators, including Harry Reid (D-NV) and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) sent a letter to President Bush. The bipartisan letter urged Bush to "eliminate the serious impacts from tens of thousands of individual snowmobiles entering the park, while simultaneously providing all visitors with the opportunity to enjoy the park in multiple ways."

Also in mid-May, a nationwide Zogby poll of 1,003 likely voters found that 66 percent supported the Park Service decision to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone. When asked whether that phase-out should continue if less polluting and less noisy snowmobiles become available, 70 percent said yes, the phase-out should go forward. The poll carried a margin of error of 3.2 percent.

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CODY, Wyo. -- Tensions have escalated over road work that some business owners claim is hurting tourism in Yellowstone National Park.  Frustration over the West Cody Strip (a stretch of highway between Cody and Yellowstone's East Entrance) repairs has led to harassment of flaggers and other construction workers by motorists and business owners, according to officials.  Some individuals have indicated they do not want to work on the project because of verbal abuse.

Although the work is scheduled to end Oct. 15, some business owners want it over with now. Some have proposed halting the project until late August or doing the work at night. In response the company doing the repairs (Hot Iron Inc.) has agreed to bring in more equipment and work longer hours, including the possible use of nighttime construction.

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