Ed Klim, ISMA President 517/339-7788 |
| (Haslett, MI) December 6, 2000 - The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and other parties today filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service to stop a planned ban of snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Citing that the ban would reverse decades of environmentally acceptable snowmobile use in the parks, ISMA said it had no choice but to pursue legal action on behalf of four million American snowmobilers and others who hope to visit the park in the future. "The federal government's decision is badly flawed. There is no basis in fact or law to totally eliminate snowmobile use," said ISMA President Ed Klim. "Hundreds of thousands of cars, trucks and RVs flow through these parks every summer and the wildlife has suffered no ill effects. Snowmobilers use the exact same roads automobiles use - except in far smaller numbers - and they have the same non-effect on wildlife." While radical special interest groups argue that snowmobile emissions and sound are detrimental to the parks, snowmobiles have always met all national air quality standards. Furthermore, there have been no independent scientific studies that have demonstrated snowmobiles cause significant harm to humans, animals or the environment. "Concerns regarding emissions and sound fail to account for new generations of cleaner and quieter snowmobiles and manufacturers' voluntary actions that have eliminated most air quality issues," said Klim. Nearly eight of ten (78%) of Americans believe snowmobiles should be allowed in national parks, according to a recent poll conducted by SWR Research. Last year snowmobilers won a lawsuit in which Federal Judge John Sedwick invalidated the Park Service's previous attempt to ban snowmobiles in large portions of Alaska's Denali National Park. The Yellowstone lawsuit challenges the arbitrary and capricious decision, arising in part from intervention by Administration political appointees, to reverse decades of traditional activity and terminate regulated snowmobile use for winter recreation on the road systems of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. For years, this traditional activity was carefully managed and encouraged by the National Park Service and provided thousands of Americans an opportunity to enjoy the winter wonders of the Yellowstone plateau and the Grand Tetons. Instead of continuing this reasonable approach, the effort to update winter use management plans was hijacked, the environmental impact statement process corrupted, new anti-snowmobile alternatives injected at the last moment, meaningful participation by cooperating states, communities, and citizens cut off, and critical facts and science disregarded. Statutory duties and obligations were cast aside and accepted interpretations of law twisted to stage a grand political gesture - the banning of snowmobiles from National Parks including Yellowstone and Grand Teton. ISMA is an organization representing the four-snowmobile manufacturers. ISMA maintains strong partnerships with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations. |
Despite the protests of ISMA, the Yellowstone gateway communities, cooperating state and county governments, national and local snowmobile users groups, and snowmobilers across the country, the National Park Service today totally closed Yellowstone National park and Grand Teton national park to snowmobile visitation beginning in the winter of 2003-2004. Thousands of citizens use snowmobiles each winter to visit these Parks riding on the same roads used in the spring, summer and fall by automobiles. Restrictions leading to the ban on snowmobile use will begin next winter. It will cap use at average use levels (2001-2002). In the winter of 2002-03, it will severely restrict use and require users to travel with Park Service approved guides and in groups of no more than eleven. In the winter of 2003-04, the Park Service will completely prohibit the use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and restrict access to snowcoaches. The agency has reversed decades of environmentally acceptable snowmobile use in these Parks. The prohibition arises from a settlement by the Park Service with the radical animal rights organization the Fund for Animals. The decision is badly flawed. There is no basis in fact or law to totally eliminate snowmobile use. Wildlife in the Parks see a steady flow of thousands of automobiles each summer with no significant ill effects. Snowmobile use on the same roads similarly does not harm the wildlife. Concerns regarding emissions and noise fail to account for new generations of cleaner and quieter snowmobiles and management actions which have eliminated most air quality issues. For the winter visitor to Yellowstone, access by snowcoach is an inadequate substitute for snowmobile use and visitors will lose the freedom to see and enjoy their national parks on their own terms. Politics, including a Park Service announced policy to eliminate all snowmobile use from all National Parks, drove the decision to totally phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. ISMA and other interested parties are evaluating their legal options. Contacts: Steve Peckham 612.346.6168 Mary Little 202.585.2085 Snowmobilers Focus on November Elections to Preserve Access to the Parks (Washington DC) October 11, 2000 - Ignoring two national surveys that show nearly 80 percent of Americans believe snowmobiles should be allowed in national parks, the National Park Service announced a plan yesterday to begin restricting public access to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in wintertime. The announcement came in spite of a poll by SWR Worldwide that found nearly eight of ten (78 percent) of Americans believe snowmobiles should be allowed in the parks. A USA Weekend poll of 76,971 readers confirmed those findings, showing that 78 percent believe off-road vehicles (including snowmobiles) should not be banned from national parks. "Eighty-six percent of wintertime visitors to Yellowstone, a number of whom are disabled, use snowmobiles to access the parks," said Christine Jourdain, executive director of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. "It's absolutely outrageous that Federal bureaucrats in Washington are ignoring the wishes of the American people. If the Park Service won't listen, then it's time the millions of snowmobilers in the U.S. make this an election issue." In July, business owners testified before Congress that a snowmobile ban in national parks would economically devastate communities surrounding the parks. The Park Service responded only by saying it would investigate the viability of busing visitors through the parks during the winter months. Clyde Seely owns a hotel, restaurant and tour operation in West Yellowstone, Mont., and is among those who testified to Congress that a snowmobile ban would bankrupt his business. Mr. Seely also operates a snow bus tour and advertises throughout the U.S. and several foreign countries, placing equal emphasis on snowmobiling and snow buses. "Only about five percent of the people choose to use the snow coach, whereas 95 percent prefer the snowmobile," testified Seely. We can offer Yellowstone trips and hype it up as much as possible, but when it comes right down to it, the snow coach only satisfies a niche market and will fail dismally in satisfying the public's rights and wishes to access Yellowstone. When that fails, so will our economy." A poll released in July by SWR Worldwide confirms Seely's fears, finding that most Americans would be less likely to visit a national park if their only winter riding option was a snow bus. Nearly 53 percent said they would be less likely to visit a national park in the winter if a bus was their only riding option, with 32.7 percent emphasizing they would be much less likely to visit. Only 16 percent said they would be more likely to visit. Seventeen percent were undecided. Ed Dougherty, a disabled snowmobiler from Pennsylvania testified to Congress in May about how a snowmobile ban would affect him. "If I were carried into a snow coach, I would feel like a prisoner looking out of a window, forced to go only where the snow coach went," said Dougherty. "I would not go to Yellowstone if I was restricted to sitting in a snow coach as a passive observer; this is not freedom; this is not being outdoors; this is not being active." With the election less than a month away, Jourdain said snowmobilers across the country have been sending letters to their Congressmen non-stop since the Park Service first announced plans of a ban in April. She also vowed that snowmobilers will continue to mobilize to stop any form of restricted access to national parks through the full rulemaking process. "All snowmobilers want is to enjoy the parks the same way millions of people enjoy them in the summer when visit in their cars, trucks and RVs," said Jourdain. "There are millions of snowmobilers out there who can't wait to vote anybody out of office who won't help us protect our rights." The American Council of Snowmobile Associations represents snowmobilers across the United States and promotes snowmobile education, safety and public land access. Contacts: Mark Day 202.585.2104 Steve Peckham 612.841.6168 New Survey Shows Americans Would Stay Away if Snow Bus Was Only Option (Washington DC) July 13, 2000 – Today business owners and a university president testified before Congress that a Department of Interior ban on snowmobiles in national parks would bankrupt small businesses and cripple communities surrounding the parks. Rep. Stupak (D-MI) started the hearing by lambasting the National Park Service for announcing a snowmobile ban without considering those people that would be most affected. “I am perturbed because the Park Service did not appear to analyze the economic impact of the snowmobile ban on the local communities,” said Stupak. “The Small Business Administration was not notified of this announcement nor was a study conducted to determine the impact on small businesses. No mention was made of how rural communities and economies would suffer when snowmobiles would be banned from National Parks. Nor was any mention made about how the seasonal employment rate in areas near National Parks would drop following a ban on snowmobiling.” During today’s hearing before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Tax, Finance and Exports, hotel and motel owners, snowmobile dealers, a snowmobile rental agent and a park tour operator explained how their businesses depend on snowmobiling in national parks. “A ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone will cause great economic harm, not only to ourselves, but to our employees,” said Clyde Seely, who owns a hotel, restaurant and tour operation in West Yellowstone, Mont. “Cuts will have to be made. The first cut would be employee insurance, the second cut would be employees. The third cut would be the retirement plans. The fourth would be more employee cutbacks. We believe that a ban on snowmobiles would cut our winter revenue by 60 to 70 percent. It would bankrupt us.” In his testimony, John Lyon, an Illinois snowmobile dealer, explained how even a proposed ban could panic snowmobilers about riding access, which could drastically hurt sales. “A fear of many is that a National Park Service ban of snowmobiles will move to other national, state and private lands,” testified Lyon. “The majority of snowmobile dealers are located in rural America, are family owned and represent the entire holdings and future of those families. A decrease in sales for any reason, especially unfounded claims, can be a disaster to businesses.” While National Park Service (NPS) plans would allow park officials to continue to use snowmobiles to patrol the parks, it would ban visitors from using snowmobiles. The NPS said it would investigate the viability of busing visitors through the parks during the winter months. A poll released today by SWR Worldwide shows most Americans would be less likely to visit a national park if their only winter riding option was a snow bus. Nearly 53 percent said they would be less likely to visit a national park in the winter if a bus was their only riding option, with 32.7 percent saying they would be much less likely to visit. Only 14.5 percent said they would be much more likely to visit and only 16 percent said they would be more likely to visit. Seventeen percent were undecided. Mr. Seely also operates a snow bus tour operation in Yellowstone and advertises throughout the U.S. and several foreign countries, placing equal emphasis on snowmobiling and snow buses. “…only about five percent of the people choose to use the snow coach, whereas 95 percent prefer the snowmobile,” testified Seely. “We can offer Yellowstone trips and hype it up as much as possible, but when it comes right down to it, the snow coach only satisfies a niche market and will fail dismally in satisfying the public’s rights and wishes to access Yellowstone. If that fails, so will our economy.” Two recent polls show nearly 80 percent of Americans believe snowmobiles should be allowed in national parks. Contact: Mark Day 602-585-2104 Jake Reint 612-346-6190 (pager) 612-680-8569 Opposition to Lock-Out Policy Grows Washington, DC, July 20, 2000 – The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) today praised Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands Representative Jim Hansen (R-UT) for conducting an oversight hearing on the Department of the Interior’s attempts to lock the public out of America’s national parks. “The Clinton Administration has engaged in a systematic attempt to restrict public access to national parks,” said Ed Klim, president of ISMA. “The public chooses to experience their parks in many ways, from snowmobiles to RVs to personal watercraft, and they’re trying to take it all away, one piece at a time. Two recent polls show nearly 80 percent of Americans believe snowmobiles should be allowed in national parks, and the administration should listen to the people.” “We applaud Representative Hanson for his leadership and willingness to expose this extreme attempt by Washington bureaucrats to lock out the public from the parks they own. Snowmobilers want to work with Congress to develop a reasonable public access policy so that everyone can respectfully enjoy our beautiful national parks, especially in wintertime,” Klim added. On April 27, the National Park Service (NPS) and outgoing Assistant Secretary of the Interior Donald Barry announced their intention to ban the use of snowmobiles in 27 national parks. The NPS took this extreme action, despite recent scientific evidence that shows new snowmobiles have significantly reduced sound and emissions. “The Park Service used outdated tests and irrelevant procedures on obsolete snowmobiles,” Klim said. “That is not a sound basis for public policy. In fact, all new snowmobiles currently meet or exceed all national emission and sound level requirements.” ISMA is an organization representing the four snowmobile manufacturers. ISMA maintains strong partnerships with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Associations, representing four million snowmobilers. ISMA coordinates committees within the industry to handle concerns such as snowmobile safety and the positive economic impact the sport has throughout the world. Contact: Ed Klim 517.339.7788 Industry Mobilizes to Preserve Access NASHUA, N.H., June 8, 2000—Executives from the four major snowmobile manufacturers rallied enthusiasts at an annual gathering today as they pledged to pursue all means possible to combat the proposal by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to ban snowmobiling in 29 national parks. “Be confident that the manufacturers are doing everything we can to fight the anti-motorized recreation agenda being fueled by partisan politics and junk science,” said Tom Tiller, president & COO of Polaris Industries, at the International Snowmobile Congress. The annual gathering is being attended by 600 members of snowmobile clubs and associations from the U.S. and Canada. “When we testified before U.S. House and Senate hearings in Washington, D.C., just two weeks ago, our opponents discovered how strong and united the snowmobiling community really is,” said Tiller. “With our testimony, Congress now has far greater understanding and appreciation for our side of the story. We’re very encouraged, and you should be too.” Snowmobile Congress attendees also were pleased with the announcement of a new fund that will award grants of up to $5,000 to snowmobile associations to support approved programs. The new Safety, Environmental and Land Access Fund will support efforts to maintain access for snowmobilers to public lands and for dealing with safety and environmental issues. The fund will be administered by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). “We know that snowmobilers are ready to do all they can to ensure a bright future for their favorite pastime, and this fund will help them do that,” said Pierre Beaudoin, president and COO of Bombardier Recreational Products. Beaudoin explained that the NPS ban is really not about protection of the environment but about exclusion from public lands and waters. “Unfortunately, powerful public officials have begun to implement an agenda with the goal of removing access to all public lands and waters for people who enjoy motorized and other forms of outdoor recreation,” Beaudoin said. “This is regardless of the progress we agreed to make and are making in reduction of emissions and sound levels.” Beaudoin underscored the snowmobile industry’s position that the methodology used by the U.S. Department of the Interior to implement the proposed ban was fundamentally unreasonable. He argued that the Interior Department crossed the bounds of fairness when it announced it would change its interpretation of two executive orders to exclude snowmobiles from national parks. Both executive orders are over 20 years old. “If the only way we’ll gain an opportunity to provide meaningful input on this subject is through legal action, then that’s what we’ll do,” said Beaudoin. “Hopefully, it won’t come that. We believe the facts and common sense will ultimately prevail. People throughout America are already seeing through the smoke screen that the park service has created to make snowmobilers look like the bad guys. For the park service to suggest that the only answer is to ban snowmobiles altogether is an insult to the management skills of the park rangers, to our industry and to all Americans who enjoy their public lands.” In the past decade, manufacturers have leveraged research and development to make drastic reductions in emission and sound levels. Each of the four major manufacturers say they annually invest millions of dollars in developing new, cleaner and quieter snowmobile technology. Last winter in Yellowstone National Park, the NPS used and tested a pair of four-stroke concept snowmobiles developed by Arctic Cat. These snowmobiles address all of the smoke, smell and noise emissions issues associated with traditional two-stroke technology, and appeared to meet needs expressed by the Department of the Interior and NPS. Moreover, Arctic Cat added electronic fuel injection (EFI) to the four-stroke technology, making the snowmobile 65 percent more fuel-efficient. “We’re beginning to think that the Interior Department wants to ban snowmobiles even if they hover six inches above the snow, produce zero emissions and pick up litter as they go along,” said Chris Twomey, president and CEO of Arctic Cat, Inc. “As we testified in Congress, we can satisfy any reasonable national emissions standards issued by the EPA within an agreed upon phase-in period. We’re already reducing emissions through the use of ethanol and synthetic oils. We’re dramatically reducing congestion and engine idling emissions at park entrances through the introduction of pre-paid passes into the park, and we’ve proposed limits on the number of sleds allowed into the park. These are all reasonable and positive solutions but the park service is not listening to reason right now. One of the most puzzling aspects of the NPS snowmobile ban, according to Twomey, is that the NPS moved to propose the ban without waiting for results of an Environmental Protection Agency study on snowmobile emissions. Industry observers say they expect the EPA study to show that snowmobile emissions are up to 90 percent lower than previously reported. In fact, the NPS recently had to correct its own environmental impact report, saying that they overestimated snowmobile emissions by 30 to 40 percent. “In effect, the NPS has banned snowmobiles from national parks without any scientific data to rationalize the ban,” said Twomey. “Meanwhile, the EPA has completed a new study with accurate snowmobile emissions data, and we are looking forward to the release of these findings.” As the snowmobile industry mobilizes to build a coalition in support of maintaining access to public lands, it points to a strong record of “doing the right things when it comes to safe riding and being environmentally responsible,” said Mike Doughty, snowmobile product manager for Yamaha Motorsports Group. He noted that in conjunction with ISMA, the four manufacturers financially support the Safe Riders program, an international public safety campaign that successfully educates snowmobilers about safe and responsible riding. “Clearly, the image of snowmobiling among people outside the sport is far from what insiders know to be true,” said Doughty. “This is partly our own fault and partly a reflection of our own progress. We’ve created and enjoy an awesome network of trails that are largely out of the public’s eye, so the only time the general public hears about us is in the case of an unfortunate accident or land access controversy. “That’s when the so-called environmental groups claim we’re out to do harm to Mother Nature, but nothing could be further from the truth,” he continued. “Snowmobilers love the winter environment, that’s why we ride, and that’s why we’ll do all we can to preserve it. Doughty challenged Snowmobile Congress attendees to be ambassadors for the sport and said that enthusiasts have much to be proud of. “Manufacturers, associations and clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada have done a great job of educating and influencing people through safe and responsible riding programs, said Doughty. “These efforts underlie the sport’s growing popularity of among people of all ages, young adults, baby boomers, seniors. “We simply want the right to experience and explore the beauty of winter in a way that only snowmobilers can. And we need to do a better job of making people outside our sport know what they’re missing.” ISMA is an organization representing the four snowmobile manufacturers. It maintains strong partnerships with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Associations, representing four million snowmobilers. ISMA coordinates committees within the industry to handle concerns such as snowmobile safety and the positive impact of the sport throughout the world. Associations Eligible to Receive up to $5,000 NASHUA, N.H., June 8, 2000— State and provincial snowmobile associations stand to get a real boost for their activism and other grass roots efforts through a new fund being coordinated through the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). The new Safety, Environmental and Land Access Fund will provide state and provincial associations with grants worth up to $5,000 to help associations finance campaigns and projects that protect the rights of snowmobilers and other recreationists to enjoy public land. The grant money may also be used to fund legal actions regarding land access issues, in addition to safety and environmental responsibility campaigns, explained Ed Klim, president of ISMA, who announced the creation of the fund at the International Snowmobile Congress (ISC) in New Hampshire. The fund consists of $160,000 US, with the four major snowmobile manufacturers, Arctic Cat, Bombardier, Polaris and Yamaha each contributing $40,000. The fund is in addition to the substantial support the manufacturers currently make to the Safe Riders Campaign. News of the fund held special significance at this year’s industry gathering. ISMA and the major snowmobile manufacturers are fighting a proposal by the National Park Service to ban snowmobiling in 29 national parks, as well as actions by the Department of Agriculture to prohibit access to 55 million acres of forest service land. Snowmobile associations are eligible to receive up to two grants per year, but Klim suggests it will take an outstanding proposal to qualify. “We expect to receive really strong grant proposals from the associations,” Klim said, adding that he foresees the grant program becoming a real force in securing snowmobilers’ rights. “This will be a competitive process to ensure the best program ideas rise to the top.” Grant proposals will be reviewed during quarterly meetings in August, November, February and May. ISMA will notify applicants whose proposals receive approval within 30 days of the quarterly review, and grant checks will be issued in September, December, March and June. “Snowmobile manufacturers recognize that the strength of this industry lies in the snowmobile associations, and they have established this fund to help build on this strength in efforts to defend the right to recreate responsibly on public lands,” said Klim. “We know that snowmobilers are action, results-oriented enthusiasts who will fight for what’s right. We thank them for their support and are here to help them in their efforts.” Grant forms are available from the ISMA office. Applicant groups may write to or call the ISMA Safety, Environmental and Land Access Fund, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, 1640 Haslett Road, Suite 170, Haslett, MI 48840, 517-339-7788, 517-339-7798-fax. (Washington, DC) May 25, 2000 — Today representatives from the snowmobile industry and enthusiast groups testified before Congress that the U.S. Department of Interior ban on snowmobiling in national parks was not based on scientific evidence and did not take into account the great improvements in snowmobile technology over the last decade. “Building on years of research by manufacturers, great progress is being made toward significantly improving the environmental performance of snowmobiles,” said Chris Twomey, CEO of Arctic Cat, based in Thief River Falls, MN. During today’s hearing before the House subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, Assistant Secretary of the Interior Donald Barry, under intense questioning from several Members of Congress, could not produce any scientific evidence supporting his comments that snowmobiles violate air quality standards. “Instead of taking proactive measures to address a management problem, the Department of the Interior by its own admission has decided to retreat and attempt to eliminate the issue (surrounding snowmobile use),” said Senator CraigThomas (R-WY). “There has been no attempt to seek alternatives to mitigate any adverse impacts or manage the activities.” Four-stroke engines are just one of many clean technology options the snowmobile industry has been working on to both reduce emissions and meet the needs of the snowmobiling community. The industry reiterated that it looks forward to meeting reasonable national standards expected from the EPA this year. “The Park Service knew of our efforts and chose to ignore them,” Twomey added. Twomey asked for legislation preventing further Interior Department action to ban snowmobiles until the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues national snowmobile emissions standards expected later this year. “The manufacturers are confident we can satisfy any reasonable national emissions standards issued by the EPA within an agreed phase-in period,” said Twomey. ISMA is an organization representing the four snowmobile manufacturers. ISMA maintains strong partnerships with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Associations, representing four million snowmobilers. ISMA coordinates committees within the industry to handle concerns such as snowmobile safety and the positive economic impact the sport has throughout the world. Snowmobilers to Ask Congress to Preserve Park Access (Washington, DC) May 24, 2000 – Nearly eight of ten (78 percent) of Americans believe snowmobiles should be allowed in national parks and only 11 percent support the National Park Service’s recent decision to ban snowmobiles from the park, according to a new poll released today by SWR Research. The abrupt and controversial decision was announced without input from four million snowmobilers – including families, elderly and disabled Americans who use snowmobiles for winter access to national parks. “I know it’s hard for people to think about snowmobiling a few days before Memorial Day, but this issue matters to any American who values free access to our national parks,” said Ed Klim, Executive Director of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). “The National Park Service decision was based on ‘junk’ science made without any public input or supervision.” Seventy-seven percent of Americans believe the Park Service should have considered the opinions of recreational snowmobilers before making its decision. More than half of those surveyed view the ban as another example of federal overreach and say the government is trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist. Citing an old executive order that dates back nearly 30 years to the Nixon administration, the Park Service based its unilateral decision on data gathered more than a decade ago from tests on snowmobiles that are now obsolete. In addition, this data was based on procedures designed to test lawnmowers. Current, independent tests designed by the Southwest Research Institute, which is known for its work in environmental protection, and performed by six separate laboratories, show that snowmobile emission contributions are not a significant source of pollution. “The Park Service used outdated tests and irrelevant procedures on obsolete snowmobiles,” Klim said. “That is not a sound basis for public policy. In fact, all new snowmobiles currently meet or exceed all national emission and sound level requirements.” The National Park Service chose to ignore overwhelming public opinion in favor of allowing all Americans access to our national parks. In fact, snowmobiles are a great way to see winter’s beauty under controlled conditions. Even seniors and the disabled can enjoy the national parks on snowmobiles. “If this ban is upheld, many disabled Americans will be shut out of our national parks in the winter,” said Ed Dougherty, a disabled snowmobiler from King of Prussia, PA. “But I came to Washington to testify because I want our grandchildren to enjoy the freedom of snowmobiling through America’s majestic landscapes.” Both the House and Senate will hold hearings tomorrow, May 25, when snowmobilers are expected to ask Congress to direct the Park Service to use accurate data and seek full public input before taking any action to restrict park access. “Unlike the Park Service, Congress is giving us a fair hearing and we are counting on lawmakers to stop this folly and keep public lands open to every American,” added Klim. More than a dozen Senators denounced as “totally inappropriate” the Park Service action in a May 10 letter to Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. Signed by Senators Thomas, Murkowski, Collins, Smith, Enzi, Grams, Allard, Burns, Crapo, Campbell, Craig and Bennett, the letter predicts “severe ramifications on a wide array of other activities that take place not only in parks, but on other lands under the jurisdiction of our land management agencies. . . . If this precedent is allowed to stand, each activity that offends even the smallest special interest group will be the subject of protracted litigation and subsequent closures.” In a May 12 speech on the Senate floor, Senator Grams (R-MN) added that "this decision stands as a dramatic example of how not to conduct policy formulation and is an affront to the consideration American citizens deserve from their government." The survey of 1,000 adult Americans was conducted May 16-17 by SWR Research. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. SWR Research is an internationally recognized polling and public opinion firm. ISMA is an organization representing the four snowmobile manufacturers. ISMA maintains strong partnerships with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Associations, representing four million snowmobilers. ISMA coordinates committees within the industry to handle concerns such as snowmobile safety and the positive economic impact the sport has throughout the world. A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE HISTORY Snowmobiling is one of the most popular forms of outdoor winter recreation, enjoyed by millions of Americans each year. For more than four decades, snowmobilers have been welcome guests on our national parks, forests and other Federal public land units. The snowmobile community – enthusiasts, manufacturers, dealers and suppliers – have a long and proud tradition of community service and environmental preservation. Hundreds of thousands of American jobs are dependent on the snowmobile industry, including manufacturing, sales and service, and for hundreds of communities, hotels, restaurants and other businesses patronized by snowmobile users. Snowmobile manufacturers have been proactive and progressive in seeking to meet high safety and environmental standards with their machines, including actively encouraging and supporting the development of national emission standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the national parks, snowmobiles can only be operated on groomed roads and trails and are subject to demanding rules and regulations such as speed limits and treatment of wildlife. In the national parks, snowmobiles are not “off-road vehicles. THE ISSUES The U. S. Department of Interior has announced that it will move to ban the use of snowmobiles in all but 15 national park units. The Department alleges that a complete ban, rather than management of use, is needed to curb snowmobile emissions, noise and disturbance of wildlife. Yet the Department has not made a stand alone request to Congress seeking to support the allegation that a ban is the only reasonable option for mitigating emissions, noise and wildlife disturbance. The Department claims no new statutory or regulatory authority for such a total ban but instead cites executive orders and agency regulations that have not been interpreted or enforced in this manner for three decades. REJECT THE BAN Snowmobiles have always met – and continue to meet – all national park air quality and sound level standards. No scientific studies have shown any significant harm to humans, animals or the environment from snowmobile use. To ban long established snowmobile use on such specious legal grounds would subject any traditional use of the parks to abrupt and arbitrary elimination by bureaucratic fiat. The proposed ban jeopardizes thousands of American jobs. There should be no new restrictions on snowmobile use in the national parks pending EPA standards to assure cleaner snowmobiles. Snowmobile manufacturers are prepared to comply with the forthcoming EPA standards. Snowmobile manufacturers and users are willing to work with the national parks to develop and implement new, reasonable policies to manage snowmobile access and use. Byline: Edward J. Klim Executive Director International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association Park Service Took “Wrong Way” in Cutting Access The National Park Service is attempting to post “Do Not Enter” signs at the gates of 27 national parks, barring access to snowmobiling families across America. That single-handed action is an attack on all snowmobilers, especially the seniors, the disabled and Snowmobile Moms who enjoy our national treasures in the crisp beauty of winter. It is an attempt to unravel the $9.2 billion snowmobile industry that provides 65,000 jobs. And it irresponsibly ignores the environmental advancements of the industry that is building cleaner, quieter machines. Add to those inadequacies the fact that the National Park Service took this action without consulting with the very people that they were banning from the park is proof enough that a “Wrong Way” sign should be permanently posted outside the offices of the National Park Service. When a nationwide poll shows only 11 percent of Americans favor a ban on snowmobiles, the National Park Service should know they’re headed the wrong way. The proposed ban of snowmobiles announced in late April is plain and simple the wrong way to do business for several reasons. Quite simply, Assistant Secretary Donald Barry slandered four million snowmobilers with his unilateral and irresponsible comments about snowmobile riders. Let’s look at the facts. On average they are about 40 years old. More than 75 percent are married. More than 80 percent use their snowmobiles for trail riding and touring on marked and groomed trails, built and maintained by volunteer snowmobilers. And in many snow-covered states, these snowmobiles are essential vehicles for search and rescue missions, travel and emergencies. It’s the wrong way to do business to shut out millions of responsible Americans who enjoy the beauty of winter in our national parks with family and friends. Snowmobiling is an important economic engine supporting tens of thousands of jobs and bringing more than $9 billion dollars into the economy every year. Certainly manufacturers make up a significant portion of that figure. But don’t forget the little guys. The snowmobile industry is a tourist business. A proposed ban will be a devastating blow to tour operators, motels, restaurants, service stations and rental and repair shops bordering the parks. In fact, the Mayor of West Yellowstone has stated that the ban will, in essence, close the town down. That phenomenon will repeat itself 27 times across our nation. Creating wintertime ghost towns across America is the wrong way to do business. The Park Service ban also irresponsibly ignores environmental evidence. First of all, snowmobiles have always met – and continue to meet – all National Park air quality and sound level standards. No scientific studies have shown any significant harm to humans, animals or the environment from snowmobile use. In fact, the Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Dept. of Interior, U.S. Geological Group are among organizations that have researched air quality in the parks and found snowmobiles don’t present a significant environmental impact. Secondly, in all national parks, snowmobiles can only be operated on trails built on snow-covered paved roads – the same roads that carry millions of cars, trucks and RVs from April to November. Despite what Barry and his staff would have you believe, snowmobilers willingly stay on groomed trails and abide by strict speed limits and other regulations to enjoy our nation’s treasures in their wintry, snow-covered splendor. The industry has already stepped forward to create cleaner and quieter snowmobiles and there has been exhaustive work done with the EPA to develop emissions standards. It’s not too late for the Park Service to correct its ways. First, it must abandon the proposed ban. Then it must open the system and involve all groups of people who use the parks. The Park Service needs to listen to the millions of responsible snowmobilers, including the senior citizens, the disabled, the Snowmobile Moms, the tour operators, restaurant owners – and the manufacturers. If the Park Service opens its ears, it will learn. And with this openness, will come resolution. The parks should be enjoyed by all – not by just a few elite. A reasonable solution is possible if the Park Service is willing to start the communication process. However, if the Park Service continues to pursue its current course of ignoring the facts, ignoring four million snowmobilers and ignoring the opinion of 80 percent of Americans, they’ll be sending us all down a dangerous road. It’s a dead end road where politicians in Washington decide who can and cannot use public lands without consulting the people who own them – the American people. That, frankly, is the wrong way to do business. In 1974, the snowmobile industry created the Snowmobile Safety Certification Committee, which established strict certification safety and noise standards for all snowmobiles manufactured by International Snowmobile Manufacturer’s Association members (Arctic Cat, Bombardier, Polaris Industries and Yamaha). In 1994, independent of any government regulation, the snowmobile industry hired Southwest Research Institute to design a snowmobile use-cycle for the correct testing of snowmobile emissions. In 1995, the snowmobile manufacturers initiated discussions with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the mutual goal of reducing snowmobile emissions to meet the Clean Air Act requirements. In 1996, the snowmobile industry again hired Southwest Research Institute to design a test cycle for proper testing of snowmobile engine emissions. In 1998, after the snowmobile industry performed a round robin testing of snowmobile engines to establish a baseline of engine emissions, the Society of Automotive Engineers published the internationally accepted testing procedure for snowmobiles. By September of 2000, the EPA will develop appropriate regulations regarding snowmobile emissions to meet Clean Air Act requirements (passed by Congress and signed by President Bush). On April 27, the U.S. Department of Interior announced its intention to ban the use of snowmobiles in 27 national parks. The Department cited noise and emissions as reason for such extreme action, despite recent scientific evidence which shows new snowmobiles have significantly reduced sound and emissions. The Department claims no new authority for such a ban, instead they have dusted off executive orders and agency regulations that have not been interpreted or enforced for three decades. While the Department is inaccurately judging the environmental impact of snowmobiles, the Environmental Protection Agency is creating its first-ever emissions standards for snowmobiles, which snowmobile manufacturers are expecting in September 2000. The National Park Service ban did not allow time for federal, state or local officials to work together on the issue, nor did it bring North America’s 4 million snowmobilers to the table to discuss the impact of the decision. The studies the National Park Service is using to justify the ban are based on data gathered a decade ago using obsolete vehicles that haven’t been manufactured in 10 years, using incorrect and unscientific testing procedures. Snowmobiles have always met all national park air quality and sound level standards. No scientific studies have demonstrated that snowmobiles cause significant harm to humans, animals or the environment. Snowmobile manufacturers have sought to meet high environmental standards by researching new technology and encouraging the development of emission standards by the Environmental Protection Agency — standards that will be announced in September 2000. In fact, the snowmobile manufacturers proactively approached the EPA in 1997 to request emissions standards. Snowmobilers have enjoyed the use of national parks for more than 30 years. The National Park Service estimates more than 180,000 snowmobiles are used each year on national park lands. The ban would infringe on the freedom of millions of Americans and would create economic disaster in hundreds of small towns nationwide. Tens of thousands of American jobs are dependent on the $9.4 billion snowmobile industry, including manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, and tourism industries such as hotels and restaurants. There are more than 4 million snowmobilers in North America who pay for trail development and maintenance in the form of permits, registration fees and volunteer time. In 1999, there were more than 230,000 snowmobiles sold worldwide. There are nearly 4,000 North American snowmobile enthusiast clubs involved in fund raising, conservation and trail development. There are more than 230,000 miles of groomed and marked snowmobile trails in North America, the vast majority of which are maintained by volunteer snowmobilers. Snowmobilers in North America spend more than $9 billion on their sport each year. This includes expenditures on equipment, clothing, accessories and snowmobiling vacations. The average snowmobiler rides their sled more than 1,200 miles per year. Snowmobilers spend on the average 7.2 nights per snowmobile season in a motel/resort room while snowmobiling. The average age of a snowmobile owner is 41 years old. Surveys show that 95% of snowmobilers consider it a family sport. The overwhelming majority of snowmobile owners are married and have children. There at least 41 registered non-profit associations representing snowmobilers in the U.S., Canada and Scandinavia. Snowmobilers raised more than $3 million for charities during the 1999 season. The American Council of Snowmobile Associations has distributed millions of copies of educational materials on safe and responsible snowmobiling. Facts provided by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, www.snowmobile.org. |