Statement on National Park Service Announcement on Snowmobiles at Yellowstone and Grand Teton
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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | June 25, 2002 |
| Contact: | Steven Bosak, NPCA, 202-454-3398; cell 202-997-0875 |
Statement on National Park Service Announcement on Snowmobiles at Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Washington, D.C. - Today we heard with heartfelt disappointment that the National Park Service has decided to allow snowmobile use to continue in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. The specifics of what the Park Service intends to do are still sketchy, but one thing is abundantly clear. In taking this step, the Park Service is ignoring the clearly stated view of the American people.
The Park Service received 350,000 comments on this issue during the past year, more than the Service has received on a single issue ever. The comments ran more than four to one against snowmobiles. The people are telling the Bush Administration that they want snowmobiles out of Yellowstone and Grand Teton and a return to natural sounds and clean air in the parks.
Instead, the Park Service is giving the American people a park where natural sounds are burdened by the abrasive roar of the snowmobile and where a clean environment throughout winter will be polluted by exhaust fumes. The snowmobile industry claims to have designed snowmobiles that produce less pollution and noise, but the Environmental Protection Agency has debunked these claims.
The Bush Administration revived the study of snowmobiles in the parks at the behest of its friends in the snowmobiles industry. Now, in the face of the American people's heavy opposition to snowmobiles in the parks, the Bush Administration is giving its friends the go-ahead to pollute Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The American people have spoken clearly: They don't want snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. But the Bush Administration hasn't heard them over the sounds of the snowmobile.
The Park Service received 350,000 comments on this issue during the past year, more than the Service has received on a single issue ever. The comments ran more than four to one against snowmobiles. The people are telling the Bush Administration that they want snowmobiles out of Yellowstone and Grand Teton and a return to natural sounds and clean air in the parks.
Instead, the Park Service is giving the American people a park where natural sounds are burdened by the abrasive roar of the snowmobile and where a clean environment throughout winter will be polluted by exhaust fumes. The snowmobile industry claims to have designed snowmobiles that produce less pollution and noise, but the Environmental Protection Agency has debunked these claims.
The Bush Administration revived the study of snowmobiles in the parks at the behest of its friends in the snowmobiles industry. Now, in the face of the American people's heavy opposition to snowmobiles in the parks, the Bush Administration is giving its friends the go-ahead to pollute Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The American people have spoken clearly: They don't want snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. But the Bush Administration hasn't heard them over the sounds of the snowmobile.
