The U.S. Senate just approved legislation that states "notwithstanding any other provision of law, the National Park Service final winter use rules published in... the Federal register for November 10, 2004. ...shall be in force and in effect for the winter use season of 2006-2007 that commences on or about December 18, 2006." This legislation muted claims in at least two of the lawsuits that could close the park to snowmobiles.
Those rules from November 2004 allow a total of 720 snowmobiles in Yellowstone per day, and the machines have to meet Best Available Technology standards (BAT) and be commercially guided.
The Park Service is also beginning to prepare a 3rd Winter Use Plan Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for managing winter recreational use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The plan will be completed by the summer of 2007 and will determine future snowmobile access to these parks starting with the winter of 2007-2008.
This fall there will be another opportunity to comment on the draft EIS. To stay informed on the Yellowstone winter access issue visit
www.saveyellowstonepark.com For more information about this planning process go to the National Park Service Web site at
www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/winteruse/index.htm