Park Service gets 100,000 letters on Yellowstone sleds. 99% oppose.

Most letters against park snowsled plan
By MIKE STARK
Gazette Wyoming Bureau



http://www.billingsgazette.com/index...mocomments.inc
More than 100,000 people commented on the latest version of a
snowmobile plan for Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and
most - as they have in the past - favored banning snowmobiles from the
parks.

Marsha Karle, a Yellowstone representative, said park officials were
still analyzing the content of the comments but said most favored
eliminating the machines from the two parks.

"You have to remember that these are very preliminary," she said
Thursday afternoon.


Earlier in the day Jon Catton, a Bozeman-based conservationist working
for several groups on the snowmobile issue, said he had received a
Park Service document stating that on Oct. 21 Park officials estimated
that they had received more than 100,000 comments.

And he said Park Service officials said that of those letters counted
up to that point, 99 percent favored outlawing the machines in the two
parks.

The document did not specify how many comments had been reviewed at
that point.

Karle confirmed that about 100,000 comments had been submitted but,
be- cause park officials are still examining the letters, said she
couldn't say what percentage of the comments were in favor of the ban
- except that it appeared to be a majority - and exactly how many were
form letters.

The comments submitted this fall were the latest chance for the public
to tell the Bush administration what it thinks of a new plan that
allows only limited numbers of "cleaner and quieter" snowmobiles into
the parks.

The plan, which is scheduled to be completed and signed before the
snowmobile season starts Dec. 17, overturns a Clinton administration
ban on the machines.

But lifting the ban, at least among those who have chosen to comment
to the federal government, hasn't been popular.

Last year, the Park Service received a record number of public
comments - nearly 360,000 - about snowmobiles. About 97 percent were
form letters.

All told, more than 80 percent favored eliminating snowmobiles from
the parks. The results were similar in an earlier public comment
period.

Despite a majority of comments against the new plan, park officials
have said their proposal would provide adequate protections for
wildlife and people while still allowing access for snowmobilers.

Opponents, though, have pointed out that the Park Service's own
studies say they best option for protecting people, wildlife and air
quality is the banning the machines and instead allowing access in the
winter via snowcoaches.

Earlier this month, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., heard
arguments about the issue in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups.
A ruling could be handed down in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Park Service officials are still working to complete the
snowmobile plan, which, Karle said, includes examining the public
comments and deciding whether any changes need to be made.

The number and text of the comments will be released when the final
plan is made public, she said