BlueRibbon Coalition Update

Yellowstone opening ahead

Snowmobiling in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks begins December 15

By Jack Welch, Special Projects Consultant, BlueRibbon Coalition

As sledders enjoy the last days of summer in anticipation of a bountiful fall, it is appropriate to review the winter use management status for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The short story is that the parks are still scheduled to open, things are trending in our direction, and it will be an active fall in the courtrooms as the various legal actions will peak before the parks open this time around.

Tread Lightly: Access to Yellowstone and Grand Teton is restricted to BAT-approved sleds and commercially guided snowmobile access.

The current winter use rule was finalized in mid-December, 2007 following a lengthy public planning process. The rule and the related Record of Decision (ROD) are designed to establish a long-term management strategy. The ROD and final rule formalize changes and restrictions to winter access to the parks. While BlueRibbon was disappointed by some of these changes, it is important to keep a broader perspective and recognize that preservationist forces have waged a full-court press on snowmobiling in the parks for over a decade. They have pulled no punches in pushing a “zero tolerance” snowmobile management philosophy. In spite of this, the new winter use plan allows for continued snowmobile access to the parks. However, the debate is not over.

Even before the ink was dry on the ROD the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Wilderness Society and National Park and Conservation Association issued a press release vowing, among other things, to “seek a court review.” And they did, filing two new lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. These lawsuits will be heard by the Honorable Emmett Sullivan, the judge that issued an injunction prohibiting snowmobiling on the eve of the 2003-2004 season.

Like any good story, here the plot thickens. Offsetting the two D.C. suits are suits filed by the State of Wyoming and Park County, Wyoming in U.S. District Court in Wyoming. These lawsuits will be heard by the Honorable Clarence Brimmer, who granted a motion for preliminary injunction in 2004 that essentially countered the D.C. injunction and “reopened” the parks to snowmobiling. Both Wyoming cases involve challenges asserting the final rule and ROD go too far and impose unjustified restrictions on snowmobile use.

This time around we will hopefully have greater finality heading into the season opener than in the ’03-’04 season. All the cases are fully briefed, and Judge Sullivan has scheduled argument on the merits for August 27, 2008, while Judge Brimmer has scheduled argument on September 15, 2008. BlueRibbon is a party to all these cases alongside our partners the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and and American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA). We will keep you apprised of breaking news in any of these lawsuits.

Here is a summary of the key components of the new management plan:

You may also recall that access through the East Gate-Sylvan Pass has been a controversial topic. The final rule and ROD basically closed this entrance to all travel, including snowmobiling. In response to vociferous opposition from Park County, the State of Wyoming and other interests, the Park Service convened a “study group” and in early June revised the final rule and ROD to keep Sylvan Pass open and allow up to 30 daily snowmobile entries through the East Gate. This access depends on continuing Park Service approval that conditions are appropriate for access, based on numerous factors including weather, safety, equipment and fiscal constraints.

In closing, the park is scheduled to open December 15, 2008 and close March 15, 2009.

For further updates on the litigation please visit and bookmark our dedicated Yellowstone website at www.saveyellowstonepark.com. I hope you will plan to visit and enjoy Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks this winter.