[Geysers] Winter Use Plan

[Graham Meech]

Steve, it looks like the court decision has been resolved as of November
17th.  There's a posting on the NPS site that says "Parks To Open On Time
For Winter Use. Court order provides for snowmobile and snowcoach access in
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks."

 

Here's the link:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/parknews/08091b.htm

 

In 8 weeks time I head to Yellowstone again for a winter trip.  Maybe I will
have luck and see F&M this winter...

 

Graham.

 

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From: geysers-bounces at lists.wallawalla.edu
[mailto:geysers-bounces at lists.wallawalla.edu] On Behalf Of
stepheneide at cableone.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:04 PM
To: geysers at lists.wallawalla.edu
Subject: [Geysers] (No subject header)

 

Greetings and Salutations,

I'm sure most of you are aware the winter use plans for Yellowstone this
winter have been up in the air.  Judge Andrew Sullivan (Washington DC) ruled
earlier this year that the initial park proposal for 540 snowmobiles daily
was excessive as the park service had already determined that would allow
too much air pollution.  The park service then generated a plan with 318
snowmobiles daily.  However, then Judge Clarence Brimmer (Wyoming) ruled in
a separate lawsuit that the park could allow 720 snowmobiles a day, the 2004
number, while it attempted to formulate a new long term plan.  So the park
service changed their plan for this winter season to allow 720 snowmobiles a
day.  Sorta reminds you of the dueling Judge issues that came out of the
wolf lawsuits.  

The problem with this that I see is that Judge Sullivan is still hearing his
lawsuit, and he has clearly said that he will throw out any winter use plan
that does not reduce the number of snowmobiles.  He has stated that once the
park service recognized snowmobiles are a source of harmful pollution the
park is required to address the issue and make it better.  The park service
appears to be playing chicken with Judge Sullivan, and I suspect the park
service will lose at this game. This could result in no valid plan for
winter use and possibly stopping any winter use this season.  In my less
than humble opinion, this is world class stupid action by the park service.


It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, sorta like it is
interesting to watch a train wreck.  

Stephen J. Eide

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