By Gretchen Randall Date: December 17, 2003 Activist judge ignores facts, outlaws snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton becomes the Grinch who stole Christmas from western towns Issue: Judge Emmett G. Sullivan overturned a Park Service rule that would have allowed snowmobiles in limited numbers into Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The judge said he ruled as he did because the Clinton administration, in an earlier rule-making process, found that snowmobiles "so adversely impacted the wildlife and resources of the parks that all snowmobile use must be halted." In banning all snowmobiles from the parks in 2004, Sullivan ignored important facts. The new rule would have permitted only 1140 snowmobiles per day and they would have been restricted to existing roads which handle over 1,500,000 motor vehicles per day during summer months. He also failed to recognize that air quality standards have never gone unmet in these parks during the winter and the new rule would have required all snowmobiles in 2005 to use cleaner burning engines. He also failed to take into account the welfare of the many communities surrounding the park that rely on snowmobile traffic to provide jobs and pay for schools. Comment 1: As Richard Pombo, chairman of the House Resources Committee said, "Federal judges continue to abuse their authority by legislating from the bench. This trend must change." Comment 2: As Richard Pombo, chairman of the House Resources Committee said, "If environmental extremists continue to have their way, people will be looking at Yellowstone through plate glass window." Comment 3: The extremists who want to ban snowmobiles in parks will next try to ban motor vehicles in parks as well. Their real motivation is to keep people out of parks entirely. Comment 4: Again, a federal judge has ruled that animals are more important than human beings and their livelihood. Itıs time the economic impact of judicial and regulatory decisions be considered. Background: The reversal of the Bush administration rule means the previous rule of the Clinton administration will stand which allows only 493 snowmobiles per day in Yellowstone in 2003 and a complete ban of all snowmobile usage in December 2004. The Bush administration plan would have required the use of new technology in engines to achieve a 90 percent reduction in hydrocarbons and a 70 percent reduction in CO2, 80 percent of the snowmobile usage would have been with guides. Gretchen Randall Winningreen LLC 3712 N. Broadway PMB 279 Chicago, IL 60613 Phone: 773-857-5086 e-mail:trandall@winningreen.com |