Judge Rejects bush* Administration Snowmobile Plan

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=10&u=/nm/20031217/ts_nm/environment_snowmobiles_dc

<snip>DENVER (Reuters) - A federal judge Tuesday threw out a Bush administration proposal that shelved a Clinton-era plan to ban snowmobiles from Yellowstone National Park -- hours before the winter season was set to begin.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in Washington ruled against a revised plan announced this year that scrapped a decision from the Clinton administration. The new plan would have allowed fewer snowmobiles than in years past and called for newer and quieter snowmobiles.

The snowmobile industry lobbied the Bush administration to reject a 2000 plan that would have phased snowmobiles out because the vehicles cause air and noise pollution.

Suzanne Lewis, superintendent of Yellowstone, told reporters in a teleconference call from Washington that 493 snowmobiles will be allowed into the park Wednesday morning just after dawn instead of 950 that would have been allowed under the park's most recent plan.

[0007]

1. I love it!

Clinton wins again.

[Mountainman]

2. Are the snow mobiles used for transportation or sport?

If they were quiet and didn't pollute and were used mainly for transportation and stay on designated roads, I don't see a problem but I think they are used mainly for racing around in the snow just for fun.

I have a similar problem with off road motorcycles where I live. There is a lot of open space here acres and acres of it. A bunch of trucks with trailers loaded with off road motorcycles ascend on us on the weekends and just run up and down the hills with no mufflers. It makes enjoying the peacefulness of the mountains very hard listening to their loud buzzing all day. Then they leave and go home where no one has to listen to them. Also they are tearing up the ecosystems.

[0007]

3. Mostly for fun!

If you've ever been around 'em you could understand how annoying they are, much like off the road motorcycles.

Kids love 'em, most old folks like me hate 'em.

[DemExpat]

4. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=273318

DU Moderator