Authorities Reduce Snowmobile Numbers in Yellowstone

The number of snowmobiles that will be allowed in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks was capped at 318 machines, as opposed to the 605 limit, previously requested by park authorities. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan decided to decrease the daily number of vehicles in the parks because they create too much noise and disturb the wildlife. Environmentalist groups everywhere saluted the initiative and congratulated Sullivan for his decision.
 

Park authorities and snowmobile advocates didn't take too kindly of the judge's decision though and sued for more vehicle permission. The fact is that this growing issue had to be addressed somehow and even park officials admit that a temporary measure had to be put in place until the situation could be resolved. The cap will enter into effect on December 15th and will last for three years.
 

Over the past years, the average number of snowmobiles that visited both parks during winter days was at about 294. Sullivan based his decision on these numbers, although opponents argued that peak times accounted for some 557 vehicles in the parks in some December days.
 

"People will be turned away and consequently it's not fair. 318, no matter how it's divided up, is not going to be adequate to allow for people to visit their national parks," said Blue Ribbon Coalition supporter Jack Welch, the member of a snowmobile advocacy group. On the other hand, John Sacklin, Yellowstone winter use planner, said "We believe the impacts will be no more than moderate based on our analysis and based on looking at monitoring results for the last four to five winters."
 

Some 78 multi-passenger snow coaches will also be allowed into the parks daily, for sigh-seeing purposes. Environmentalists argue that snowmobiles should be banned altogether, given that larger coaches are able to carry more people, under better conditions. But park officials say that this proposal is out of the question.