Delegation: Final snowmobile rule not good enough
by Wyoming delegation media release
October 15, 2009
Washington, D.C. - The Wyoming delegation, U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Representative Cynthia Lummis, all R-Wyo., made comments following the National Park Service announcement today finalizing a limit on snowmobile and snowcoach access into Yellowstone National Park.
"The snowmobile and snowcoach numbers weren’t sufficient when the proposed rule came out in July and they aren’t sufficient now. More people should be allowed in the Park, not less. Yellowstone area businesses deserve more stability knowing what the winter tourist season may bring. The yearly yo-yo policy is slowly suffocating area businesses. I will continue fighting for more access," said Enzi.
"This decision ignores the primary mission of our national parks. The Administration’s proposal will limit public access and harm our local communities," Barrasso said. "Putting limits on public access is not required by law and is not backed by science. The Administration has put politics ahead of management by limiting public access to our parks."
"Today’s announcement by the Park Service goes to the heart of what is wrong with Washington decision-making," Lummis said. "Year after year, they fail to incorporate common sense and sound science into public lands decisions which end up directly hurting working families and local businesses. The Park Service’s decision to dwindle down the number of people who can enjoy Yellowstone Park in the winter is both disgraceful and wrong."
Click here to read the National Park Service announcement restricting access to 318 snowmobiles in the park each day and 78 commercially guided snowcoaches per day through the 2010-2011 winter season: New Winter Use plan completed for Yellowstone
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