During the peak of the snowy season in Yellowstone
National Park, as many as 1,000 snowmobiles a day roar over its
groomed roads. Critics say the machines cause more noise and air
pollution than the park should have to handle. Park rangers who
sell entrance tickets complain of headaches and nausea from
breathing in clouds of exhaust from long lines of idling
snowmobiles (HCN, 4/1/96). In the town of West Yellowstone,
snowmobile exhaust permeates hotel
rooms
Recently, 60 environmental groups
representing over a million people petitioned the Interior
Department to ban snowmobiles from the 30 national parks where they
are allowed.
“Snowmobiles are not appropriate in
national parks,” says Sean Smith of the Bluewater Network, an
advocacy group leading the petition effort. “I’ve snowmobiled and
it’s fun, but parks are our national heritage, and they need to be
protected.”
Besides petitioning Interior
Secretary Bruce Babbitt, the network also asked several other
federal agencies to regulate snowmobiles for safety and
health.
Snowmobile enthusiasts, estimated at over
2 million people, say critics exaggerate the impacts of the
sport.
“It’s an opportunity to get out in the
winter and have a great family experience,” says Allen Brown of the
Montana Snowmobile Association. “I don’t think snowmobiling has any
detrimental effects.”
But the EPA isn’t
convinced. Last month, the agency announced it will issue new
emissions standards next year.
The Bluewater
Network of the Earth Island Institute is based at 300 Broadway,
Suite 28, San Francisco, CA 94133 (415/788-3666, ext.
110).
* Juniper
Davis
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Are snowmobiles overpowering parks?.
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