Talk about a need for regime change......which do we do first.......Iraq, or the US?!
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Nation & World: Friday, January 31, 2003
Snowmobile expansion OK'd despite health, noise issues
By Julie Cart
Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — The Bush administration chose to expand snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks despite National Park Service findings that the vehicles cause environmental and health damage, according to documents released yesterday.
Snowmobiles were to be phased out of the parks this year under a rule imposed by the Clinton administration. Instead, a Bush administration plan will allow up to 35 percent more snowmobiles than visit on a typical day.
Bush administration officials, citing a cleaner, quieter generation of snowmobiles, considered five proposals in November. The option that would have banned the machines — echoing scientific findings of the previous administration — was released yesterday by the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, an environmental group.
Snowmobile critics say the Bush administration study supports 10 years of scientific analysis that concluded the snow machines created unhealthful levels of noise and air pollution.
"They've been telling the American people one thing, while they know another, based on their own data," said Jon Catton of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition.
The study concludes that phaseout of snowmobiles "best preserves the unique historic, cultural and natural resources" in the parks. The Park Service found that a ban "yields the lowest levels of impacts to air quality, water quality, natural soundscapes and wildlife."
Snowmobile manufacturers say newer, four-stroke engines are less noisy and do not pollute as much as older, two-stroke models. Advocates also have questioned conclusions that snowmobile users harass wildlife and harm air quality.
"As an agency, we look at the preferred alternatives to strike a balance" among snowmobilers, cross-country skiers and other visitors, said John Sacklin, Yellowstone's chief of planning.
To former Yellowstone superintendent Mike Finley, however, the policy favors snowmobilers over other visitors and employees.
"They had no intent of listening to the voice of the American people or acknowledging the science," Finley said.
The park service received more public comments about the issue than any other in history. About 80 percent of respondents favored a ban.
Copyright © 2003 The Seattle Times Company |
