bombardier makes its statement about the national park ban

 
We have just received the text of Bombardier's strongly-worded response to the recently-announced snowmobile ban on the United States National Park lands. Here are some of the highlights…

Bombardier Recreational Products, a leading recreational vehicle manufacturer, strongly opposes the ban of snowmobiles from U.S. National Parks, announced [April 27] by the U.S. Department of Interior.

The announcement was made prior to a pending U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study that is expected to reflect dramatic reductions in emissions and lower environmental impact than what has been reported.

"We are told that an EPA study, which is due to be released next month, will show that previously reported snowmobile emissions were mistakenly inflated by as much as 90 percent," said Pierre Beaudoin, president and chief operating officer of Bombardier Recreational Products. "Why would the Park Service take such drastic action without the benefit of these findings? "

"The new results will show that we've lived up to our pledge to produce cleaner fuel-burning engines," he continued. "The Department of Interior's action gets in the way of the progress being made and the strong collaboration between the manufacturers and the EPA. We want to spend our time on making the highest quality products that meet and exceed stringent standards- and not on politics."

The snowmobile industry has a history of cooperation with the EPA and the NPS, noted Beaudoin. In May 1997, the snowmobile manufacturers presented to the EPA a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which recognized the importance of reducing snowmobile exhaust emissions in a cost-effective, technologically feasible fashion. The new emission requirements for snowmobiles will be established in September 2000. The EPA intends to finalize the requirements within a year. The industry will then begin final preparation for mass production of models that will meet the new requirements.

Snowmobile manufacturers have proactively offered the EPA a timeline for meeting the new requirements that is much more aggressive than what the automobile industry is subject to, which the EPA acknowledges.

Beaudoin points to great progress made in the marine industry to illustrate the advances to come for snowmobiling. Two years in advance of EPA requirements established for 2000, Bombardier introduced the semi-direct fuel injection engine for personal watercraft, which reduced emissions by up to 50 percent. Direct injection engines were introduced for the current model year which reduce emissions by 75 percent. Four years ago Bombardier introduced its patented "D-Sea-Bel!" technology, which reduces sound emission levels by up to 50 percent. This technology is now featured on all Sea-Doo personal watercraft.

"Our advances in personal watercraft are a sign of good things to come for snowmobiles," Beaudoin said. "While we're not prepared to share all of our new advances in snowmobile technology, be assured that they are on the way and they will redefine the sport of snowmobiling."

Beaudoin visited with U.S. senators from western states earlier this month along with representatives from other snowmobile manufacturers. He said the senators were very impressed with the proactive and cooperative manner in which the manufacturers were working with the EPA. Beaudoin added that they were especially interested to learn how far the industry has come in efforts to reduce sound emissions with the introduction of a new product labeling system that improves enforcement of current regulations.

Like other manufacturers, Bombardier Recreational Products is committed to challenging the NPS ban through all means available. It also is encouraging snowmobilers and other recreationists to express their concern about this effort to eliminate access to public lands.

"We are confident that technology will ultimately prevail over politics and we're hopeful that this ban will be lifted," said Beaudoin. "Nobody wins by such a drastic action as this. It's a set-back for technological progress. And it's a set-back for snowmobilers- yet it's not the first time that the Department of Interior has tried to limit public access to the parks."

Again, if this access ban disturbs you, please let your Federal Legislators and the Department of the Interior know. To voice your concerns, you should contact your United States House member, your United States Senator and/or Assistant Interior Secretary Donald Barry at Donald_Barry@ios.doi.gov or call him directly at 202/208-5347.