November 20, 2002
In this edition:

Bush Administration Plan for Yellowstone - What Happened to Law, Science and Public Opinion?
Coming Soon To Yellowstone…More Respirators and Hearing Safety Gear
Congress Reacts to Administration's Plan
ATV Safety Update - 1. "One child dead is one too many." 2. ATV Safety on Good Morning America

What Happened to Law, Science and Public Opinion?

Last week, the Bush Administration finally released the details of its proposal to reverse a 2000 Park Service decision to phase snowmobiles out of Yellowstone National Park. The plan, which the snowmobile lobby calls a return to "business as usual," will allow thousands more machines in the Park each winter. According to estimates from the Casper Star Tribune, this could mean that over 80,000 or a 16% increase in snowmobiles could enter the Park this year. The Administration spent two years and wasted over $2.4 million to draft a "new" document on snowmobile use. The new study has virtually no new information and demonstrates that wildlife harassment, noise, and pollution will continue remain a problem in Yellowstone as long as snowmobiles remain in the Park. None-the-less, the Administration still chose to completely overturn the Park Service's decision to protect America's first National Park, it's wildlife, employees, and visitors, from the negative impacts of snowmobile use. The Denver Post appropriately editorialized that "the much watered-down proposal to permit large numbers of snowmobiles in the two parks doesn't really consider the totality of the impacts that these machines create."

The Administration's decision to reverse a ban on snowmobiles completely ignored the public's overwhelming support for protecting Yellowstone. Ironically, it was during the first "Bush Administration" that the Park Service began to investigate the negative impacts due to snowmobile use in Yellowstone. Ten years of scientific study has backed the Park Service's original decision to protect our first National Park.

Please visit http://www.naturaltrails.org/pressroom/index.html for more links to other stories in the press. For background and news on Yellowstone, please visit http://www.naturaltrails.org/pressroom/releases/2002/11_12_02%20advisory.html.

Coming Soon To Yellowstone…More Respirators and Hearing Safety Gear

Studies have consistently stated that the pollution and noise generated from snowmobiles present health hazards to Park rangers in Yellowstone. This winter, some rangers will be outfitted with devices to protect their hearing due to loss of high-end hearing, as recommended by OSHA. The facts are clear regarding the human health hazards to Park rangers:

1. In 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency recommended that snowmobiles be removed from Yellowstone as the "best available protection" for air quality, wildlife and public health.

2. In 2000, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended hearing protection for Park rangers because of the unacceptably high levels of noise generated from thousands of snowmobiles damages hearing. OSHA also determined that Yellowstone employees are exposed to unacceptably high levels of carbon monoxide and benzene (Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen).

3. A study released this May by the California Air Resources Board determined that park workers were exposed to hydrocarbons at levels 10 times greater than levels measured on California freeways (LA Times, November 8, 2002).

Rather than moving to provide long-term protection to Park employees, last year, rangers wore respirators to prevent exposure to pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide after rangers reported headaches, sore throats, burning eyes and other symptoms of exposure to high amounts of snowmobile exhaust.

"When it comes to snowmobiles and Yellowstone National Park, it seems to matter less what OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency say than what the snowmobile industry says" - The Manhattan Mercury, November 8, 2002

Congress reacts to Bush Plan

Last week several Congressmen reacted to the Bush plan. Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, commented that the "The Bush Administration is launching a real 'snow job' on the American people, by stopping in its tracks a scientifically sound plan and proposing instead to allow more than 1,000 high-emissions snowmobiles in the park every day." He continued that "snowmobiles shouldn't overrun the park, rangers shouldn't have to wear gas masks to breathe clean air, and visitors to Old Faithful shouldn't have to contend with roaring engines and choking exhaust." Read the release at: http://www.naturaltrails.org/pressroom/releases/2002/11_12_02_Lieberman_Release.html.

Statements from Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) reflected the same sentiment. "I am outraged that the Administration would make such an environmentally harmful decision and then shamelessly mischaracterize it as a reasonable compromise," said Representative Holt. "The fact is that the Administration is denying ten years of scientific study that thoroughly documents that snowmobile use is causing irreparable damage to Yellowstone. I will continue my fight in Congress to pass the bipartisan Yellowstone Protection Act and overturn the Administration's wrongheaded decision." Senator Reid stated that "If you want straight-talk on the Bush plan, you have to ask the lobby that pumped over a half a million dollars in just one year into its campaign to dictate the management of America's first park. The Bush plan on snowmobiles "will be business as usual" according to the director of the coalition of snowmobile lobbyists."

ATV SAFETY

"One dead child is one too many." - Denver Post, November 12, 2002

In response to the recent deaths of two boys, ages 8 and 10, who died while riding a three-wheel all-terrain vehicle (ATV), an editorial in the Denver Post stated that children under 16 should be prohibited from riding the machines all together. The Post commented: "It's time to put the safety of children first, and when it comes to all-terrain vehicles, the solution is to prohibit children who are too young to drive a car from driving ATVs."

View the editorial at: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E73%257E984843,00.html?search=filter

Good Morning America
A recent investigation by Good Morning America (GMA) raises new questions about the ATV industry's efforts to keep adult-size ATVs out of the hands of children under 16. As reported on November 8, 2002, GMA visited or called 10 randomly selected ATV dealers nationwide and asked salespeople to recommend an ATV for a 14-year-old child. Nine of the ten dealerships recommended an adult-size ATV with full knowledge that it was being purchased in violation of the industry's recommendation that adult-size ATVs should not be sold for use by children under 16. Many dealers recommended the adult-size machines without caveats while one explained the age restrictions then proceeded to tell the producer how to evade them. View the piece online at: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/GoodMorningAmerica/GMA021108ATV_dangers.html

For More Information Contact:
Alix Rauschman, Communications Specialist
(202) 429-2672 phone
(202) 549-2860 cell
alix_rauschman@tws.org
www.naturaltrails.org

The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition includes conservation, recreation, hunting and other groups working to protect and restore all public lands and waters from the severe damage caused by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes, jet skis and all other off-road vehicles.