Yellowstone Snowmobile Ban Leaves Working Families in the Cold

Contact: Brian Kennedy or Nicol Andrews, 202-226-9019, both of the House Resources Committee

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources testified before a federal judge Monday that, "a ban on snowmobiles (in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks) would cost Wyoming 938 jobs and $11.8 million in lost labor income a year."

For Wyoming, a state with less than 500,000 people (2000, U.S. Census Bureau), the loss of 938 jobs has a tremendous impact on the economy. To put that in perspective, these net job losses in Wyoming are equivalent to 67,743 lost jobs in California, 37, 952 lost jobs in New York, and 12,698 lost jobs in Massachusetts.

"If I proposed a ban on a product that would eliminate 40,000 jobs in New York, you can be sure I would hear from one irate Sen. Clinton," said House Resources Committee Chairman, Richard Pombo (R-Calif.). "This court-imposed ban throws the baby out with the bath water and the jobs out with the snowmobiles."

"Unfortunately, Congressional allies of the radical environmental groups who brought this case before the courts blindly support the ban without a second thought for the working class families who suffer as a result," Pombo continued. "These families are the innocent victims here. New technologies and common sense enable us to strike a balance between preservation and recreation in our national parks."

Democratic-nomination hopefuls have criticized President Bush for being out of touch with 'hard working Americans' while, at the same time, they unsympathetically advocate policies that are putting people out of work. All nine Democratic candidates for president said they support the ban on snowmobiles in a January debate hosted by National Public Radio.

"We should look west for the solution to this issue," Pombo continued. "President Roosevelt's intent is prominently positioned on the arch that stretches over the North entrance to Yellowstone... 'This Park was created and is now administered for the benefit and enjoyment of the people...it is the property of Uncle Sam and therefore of us all."

The debate moved from Washington to Cheyenne this week, where a federal district court heard testimony on a parallel case that was reopened after D.C. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled in December to impose a Clinton-era rule phasing out snowmobiles entirely by next winter.

The hearings, which began Friday, were set to conclude today. Federal Judge C.A. Brimmer maintains that the case squarely falls under his purview as the harm occurred in his jurisdiction. "I regard Judge Sullivan to be attacking this court," said Brimmer (Casper Star-Tribune, Jan. 24, 2004).

"The decision to ban snowmobiles from Yellowstone is more about getting Bill Clinton in the environmental hall of fame than it is about protecting the jobs of folks or protecting the environment," said Wyoming's solitary voice in Congress, Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.).

They should turn to the National Forest system they still allow sleds, (I think). I kind of have to agree with the greenies on this one I've been to Yellowstone snowmobiling and I think their was a half dozen of us in the park and I thouhgt what is the big deal. But I've seen pictures of busy days and it is a madhouse, practically sled gridlock.

But I've seen pictures of busy days and it is a madhouse, practically sled gridlock.

So what! How does sledding on the snow hurt anyone or anything as long as these motor-heads do not harass the wildlife?

I think it is reasonable to allow only four-stroke sleds in a National Park, at least until new technology cleans up the two strokes.

But a total ban is over-the-top environmental extremism.

Is it the snowmobiling itself that is the jobs referred to in the article?

Or are the lost jobs referring to activities/jobs in which snowmobiles are used?

Seems to me that use of a SM should not be prohibited if it is essential transportation used in performance of......

However, a National Park is no place for recreational hot-rodding..
There are plenty of private lands available for such activities, and arrangements could probably be made for use of Federal Lands.. ( SM trails designated on a rotating basis each year to reduce damage and erosion )

I am sure Yellowstone requires a fee of some sort, and private landholders should be able to make money doing the same thing.

You go to a park to get away from technology and having sled gridlock zooming up and down the access roads of Yellowstone is a poor use for the park. As I said I've been there and all we did was zoom up and down the road to Old Faithful at 65mph - do it somewhere else. I'm with Abby on this one, park the vehicles. Of course this being America and its conservative leaders are a bunch of fat balding sissies from some metropolis (rhymes with metrosexual) I am now going to be called a liberal, save your breath.

Yes losing out on the business of renting out sleds will cost some jobs, but for the life of me I wonder where they got that figure because that little WY town outside of the park looked like it had 32 people, tops.

I think it is reasonable to allow only four-stroke sleds in a National Park, at least until new technology cleans up the two strokes.

Well, if the concern is air pollution, let's ban New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles before we ban the relatively minuscule amount caused by sleders in Yellowstone.

If you were zooming up and down the road to Old Faithful at 65 mph then you were BREAKING THE LAW ! I too have been SM in Yellowstone and the speed limit is 45 mph and is strickly enforced. Maybe it is because of the law breakers that we are now faced with the possiblity losing this privilage.

let's ban New York, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles

Wouldn't hurt my feelings at all.

I'm a two-stroke bike guy myself. Would like to try a sled someday.

Of course this being America and its conservative leaders are a bunch of fat balding sissies from some metropolis (rhymes with metrosexual) I am now going to be called a liberal, save your breath.

I agree with you on America's conservative leaders and I can find no reason to label you liberal. My sled is rated in dog power but to have metropolitan politicians faulting rural motor heads for some environmental transgression is ridiculous considering the destructive effects of the population concentrations they inhabit.

When I was there in 1990 there were no signs and on the specific day I was there it was 20 below and there was literally only 6-12 sleds on the WY side. I thought it great fun, but in retrospect I kinda have to side with the hippies in those snow crawler things who gave me and my friend the evil eye. When I first saw the controversy make the news I thought it was usual lib hysteria till I seen the pictures and it looked like a sled expressway with a wreck holding it up.

Myself I would hold up the ban till I squeezed those fat rich Green Orgs. for some money to buy out those sled rental outfits then limit sleds to the park employees. Besides if we turn it into a ski or snowshoe only entrance in the Winter months we might lose a few libs to the hungry wolves and mountain lions.

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