August 19, 2004 - -The National Parks Service announced a plan today that will allow 720 commercially guided snowmobiles daily into Yellowstone National Park for the next three years.
That number is down from 780 last year.
The plan is not yet final, but is expected to be set in stone after a 30-day public comment period. That would put the final ruling on or around Oct. 29, according to the Parks Service. The rule would then be in effect through the winter of 2006-'07.
The Parks Service chose the 720-sled figure from five alternatives, including 0 (snowcoaches only), 318, 540 and 950.
The new plan also includes the "best available technology" requirements that have been present in previous rulings, meaning the sleds used must be the newest, most efficient models.
In the same plan, 140 snowmobiles would be allowed daily in nearby Grand Teton National Park and on the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway that connects the two parks. That's the same as last year.
According to a release from the Parks Service, new information from last winter was used in this decision.
"Last winter was markedly different from previous winters," the release said. An average of 258 snowmobiles entered Yellowstone daily during Jan. and Feb. 2004, compared to the previous average of about 765.
That was markedly below the 780 commercially guided snowmobiles allowed in Yellowstone daily.
Public comment will be taken on the decision through midnight Sept. 20. Comments can be made online at
the comment section of the Parks Service Web site They also can be mailed to:
Management Assistant's Office
Temporary Winter Use Plans EA
PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
More information is available on the National Parks Service Web site,
www.nps.gov/yell, and this is where NPS will post more information when itt's available.