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| The
Vroom Report The State of Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) Across America
September 23, 2003 It's Official - Dirtier Snowmobiles Good Enough for Yellowstone this Winter - On September 16, the National Park Serviced announced that it will allow several 2004 model year Polaris snowmobiles, some of which pollute more than models produced by the company 2 years ago, to operate in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks this winter. Based on emissions data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released earlier this month, some of these machines, as well as models produced by Arctic Cat, produce between 40 and 213 percent more carbon monoxide or hydrocarbon pollution and can be noisier than models manufactured just 2 years ago. The Service will require the Polaris machines to be equipped with a throttle-limiting device designed to reduce noise emissions. Two testing methods were utilized - one measures average emissions
while the more stringent calculates the engine's highest emissions
level. As reported in Los Angles Times on September 4, 2003, two
of three machines tested using the less stringent method failed
to meet either the air pollution or noise standards set by the Service.
All three failed to pass the more protective test. The Park Service
has opted to allow snowmobiles to enter the park if they pass either
of the tests. Salt Lake Tribune Highlights Emissions Issues in Calling Once Again for Complete Snowmobile Phase-Out - A Tribune editorial on September 18 encapsulated the issue surrounding so-called "cleaner and quieter" snowmobiles: "The big question there is why today's best technology is not as good as the best technology of two years ago." The editorial points out that while the snowmobile industry and some in the Administration protest that comparing emissions data across time is akin to comparing apples to oranges, the "comparison is no worse than gala apples to Fiji apples." The editorial concludes with another strong endorsement of a complete snowmobile phase-out: "Such a ban was a good idea when it was proposed during the last administration. Given the lack of trustworthy data, and the apparent lack of desire by anyone in the government to gather it, the ban seems like an even better idea now." Five Children Killed in Single ATV Accident in Georgia - Five children riding a single ATV were killed on September 21 when the machine was hit by a car while traveling on a public road. A sixth child on the ATV was critically injured. The victims included four girls ages 10, 13 (two victims) and 14 and one boy age 11. The sixth victim, also a 13-year-old girl, was listed in critical condition Monday. It is illegal to driven an ATV on public streets and the 14-year old operator was unlicensed. Contact: The Natural Trails and Waters Coalition includes conservation, recreation 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.
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