Editorial: New park snowmobile plan is too restrictive

Since 2000, the National Park Service has come out with five different plans to manage winter use of Yellowstone National Park. The agency needs to try yet again. Under the latest proposal released last week, the Park Service wants to allow between 110 and 330 snowmobiles per day in the park, along with between 30 and 80 snow coaches. That’s a dramatic drop from historical winter use of our first national park. In addition, all snowmobilers would still be required to arrange for guides, and snow coaches for the first time would be required to install engines that emit less pollution. There are two problems with the plan. First, the numbers are way too low. A limit of 720 snowmobiles and 80 snow coaches a day is much more reasonable and would provide the proper balance between protecting the natural wonders of Yellowstone and allowing the public to experience them in winter. Second, the variable nature of the Park Service plan is problematic. The stated intent for varying the number of snow machines in the park is to provide a more peaceful experience on certain days for people who ski and snowshoe. But the plan would create significant uncertainty for park visitors and the businesses that serve them. Snowmobiles have been used in Yellowstone since 1963, allowing tens of thousands of people each year to visit the park that is largely inaccessible during winter. At one time, as many as 1,400 snowmobiles were allowed in the park daily...more