03/04/10

There's been an ongoing effort for several years to ban snowmobiles from Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming; a final decision should be made in the next two years.

85 members of congress have asked the National Park Service to completely ban snow mobiles in Yellowstone Park.

The park service says it would rather allow up to 540 snowmobiles in the park each day, down from the previous limit of 720 snowmobiles a day for the three previous winters.

Al Nash, Yellowstone spokesman, says, “We believe there were negative impacts to air quality, to sound, / to the resources we're here to protect.”

Wyoming's governor says the reduction is enough, and that congress should stay out of this matter; the park will release its final decision in the next two years.

Mark Stanger, Xtreme Motorsports & RV owner says, “Technology is advancing in the snow mobile industry just like it is in every industry. And nowadays engine technology is a lot cleaner than it used to be. And I think they need to look at that, if the whole purpose is to keep the air clean, then there's lots of engines now that are compliant.”

Stanger says modern day engines also can't be too loud, and have to meet sound level standards.

Snowmobile opponents want snowmobiler’s to give up their machines in Yellowstone, and use 'snow coaches' instead, which are large vans modified to travel on snow.

But many snowmobilers’ will tell you the experience wouldn't be remotely the same.