Winter recreation in Yellowstone National Park dates back more than 50 years and continues to grow in popularity. Controversy about winter use also has grown as scientific data revealed real and potential damage to wildlife, human and the ecosystem. To address these problems, the National Park Service has developed a winter use plan, which is based on scientific data and included thousands of public comments. The plan, and the final supplemental environmental impact statement (FSEIS), were released in February 2003 and will be implemented beginning in the winter of 2003 - 2004.
Goals
Provide a high quality, safe and educated winter experience for all visitors.
Provide for visitor and employee health and safety.
Preserve pristine air quality.
Preserve natural soundscapes.
Mitigate impacts to wildlife.
Minimize adverse economic impacts to gateway communities.
The Preferred Alternative
The preferred Alternative is a package that must be carried forward completely, with all components inextricably tied together. The principle components are:
All snowmobiles entering the parks must have Best Available Technology (BAT), with minimum reductions in hydrocarbon emissions of 90% and carbon monoxide emissions of 70%, as compared to a standard two stroke snowmobile. Currently, machines meeting these criteria are the four stroke snowmobiles.
To address concerns about wildlife and safety, all snowmobilers in the park will be accompanied by an NPS-approved guide. Commercially guided tours will comprise 80% of the entries, non-commercially guided tours will comprise 20%. Group leaders of non-commercially guided tours will be required to attend a training and orientation program.
Daily snowmobile entrance limits will be: East Entrance - 100; North Entrance - 50; South Entrance - 250; and West Entrance - 550.
Implement a comprehensive monitoring and adaptive management program to assess the short and long term effects of management actions on the park resources and values. Adjustments would be made in the management of the parks as a result of the monitoring.
Develop a new generation of snowcoaches as a key to winter transportation.
Other Alternatives Considered
Alternative 1a: Phase out snowmobiles beginning the winter of 2003 - 2004 with a full ban on snowmobiles effective the winter on 2004 - 2005.
Alternative 1b: Same as 1a, but one year later.
Alternative 2: Allow non-guided snowmobile access up to a daily cap on numbers; phase in emission standards for cleaner and quieter snowmobiles.
Alternative 3: Allow commercially guided snowmobile tours. Snowmobile numbers will be limited and the machines must use BAT for sound and emissions.
Alternative 4 (the Preferred Alternative): The FSEIS Preferred Alternative strikes a balance between phasing out all snowmobile use and allowing for the unlimited snowmobile use.
