BOZEMAN, MT, Nov. 24, 2009 - The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) today filed a motion to intervene on behalf of the National Park Service and the interim rule that guides winter management and the use of snowmobiles and snowcoaches in Yellowstone National Park.
"While the interim rule is a step in the right direction, it is not the best long-term plan for Yellowstone National Park," said Patricia Dowd, NPCA Yellowstone Program Manager.
On Friday, November 20, 2009, the National Park Service published a two-year interim plan to guide winter management in Yellowstone National Park. The interim rule allows 318 guided, best-available-technology snowmobiles and 78 snowcoaches per day in Yellowstone. The rule will be in effect for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 winter seasons, and the National Park Service has committed to develop and implement a permanent winter use plan by the 2011-2012 season.
"Yellowstone deserves the highest level of protection to ensure the preservation of its environment and wildlife," said Dowd. "Every major study conducted over the last decade demonstrates that visitors can enjoy Yellowstone if access is provided entirely by best-available-technology snowcoaches and the use of snowmobiles is phased out."
Last week, the interim plan was met with resistance from the State of Wyoming, who immediately filed suit and asked that the interim plan be overturned and the previous plan that allowed for up to 720 snowmobiles per day into the park be instituted. In response, NPCA, represented by Arnold and Porter, today filed a motion to intervene on behalf of the National Park Service to defend the interim rule.
"NPCA's intervention is an endorsement for the process of working toward a final winter use plan for Yellowstone, however it is not an endorsement of the rule itself," said Dowd. "We will continue to work toward a long-term plan that phases out snowmobiles and provides access to Yellowstone by snowcoaches."
Website: www.npca.org
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