Yellowstone National Park (cont.)
The National Park Service announced early last winter approved winter use plans for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway that provides visitors with a range of winter recreational opportunities for a three-year period while protecting park resources. A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Temporary Winter Use Plans Environment Assessment ensures that park resources are protected and allows for the use of snowmobiles and snowcoaches in the parks on roads that automobiles use in the summer.
The FONSI, which ensures access and protection of resources, was approved by National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director Steve Martin on Nov. 4, 2004. The plan will be in effect for the next three winter seasons, allowing snowmobile and snowcoach use through the winter of 2006-2007.
Under the decision and the implementing rule, 720 snowmobiles per day will be allowed to enter Yellowstone, all led by commercial guides. This is substantially below the historic peak day use levels in the park and is lower than the level of access allowed during the last half of the 2003-2004 winter seasons.
Commercial guides will not be required for the 140 snowmobiles per day allowed in Grand Teton National Park.
"In 2000, the Clinton administration had developed a plan to eliminate snowmobile use in these parks," Fran Mainella, director of the National Park Service, said. "I commend the Park Service employees for coming up with an environmentally-friendly, common-sense approach to winter use management that incorporates the use of cleaner and quieter snowmobile technology that reduces hydrocarbon emissions by at least 90 percent. For 40 years families have had the opportunity to access the parks by snowmobiles and we want to continue to make a variety of winter activities available to American families."
Snowmobiles in Yellowstone will continue to operate on roads used by automobiles during the summer months. Snowmobiles will continue to be prohibited on specific side roads in Yellowstone including the Fountain Flat Road, Virginia Cascades Drive, North Canyon Rim Drive, Riverside Drive and the road from Canyon Junction to Washburn Hot Springs Overlook. Snowmobiles will be allowed on the Lake Butte Road, and the Firehole Canyon Drive will be open to snowcoaches only from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and to snowmobiles and snowcoaches from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
A total of 40 snowmobiles daily will be allowed on the frozen surface of Jackson Lake for purposes of ice fishing only; a valid Wyoming state fishing license and the proper fishing gear will be required. Snowplane use will continue to be prohibited on the lake.