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NEWS & OPINION
Norton: Park will open to snowmobiling next winter
Posted: 5/12/2004
By MIKE STARK
Of The Gazette Staff
Although the issue remains mired in legal dispute, snowmobiling is likely to be part of Yellowstone National Park next winter, Secretary of Gale Norton said Wednesday.
"I am certainly confident that it will be," Norton said during a question-and-answer session with reporters in a telephone conference.
Before next winter season, National Park Service officials may have to conduct further environmental studies, examine the numbers of snowmobiles allowed into the parks and look at management practices, Norton said. She did not provide details.
"We are currently looking at our options to see what the implications of the court decisions are," Norton said.
The snowmobile issue remains in limbo because of differing decisions by federal judges in Washington, D.C., and Wyoming. The 2003-04 season abruptly spun into uncertainty the night before it began after a judge said in December that the Park Service's new plan - which would have allowed limited numbers of newer-model snowmobiles in lieu of a complete ban - wasn't justified.
With the next winter season set to begin in eight months, legal issues in two federal districts have yet to be worked out and the fate of next season is unknown.
Despite Norton's statement of confidence about snowmobiles, Yellowstone officials were more guarded about snowmobiling prospects for the coming winter.
"What we are confident of is that Yellowstone will be open this coming winter," said John Sacklin, Yellowstone's chief planner. Until court decisions are handed down, he said, Yellowstone officials can only "look at a variety of options." He declined to speculate about what those options might be.
"We recognize that one of the biggest issues last winter was uncertainty," Sacklin said. "Unfortunately, as we look ahead to this coming winter, there's a great deal of uncertainty."
The main reason for Norton's press conference Wednesday was to tout funding for Yellowstone, Grand Teton and other national parks in Wyoming. Since fiscal year 2001, the Bush administration has allocated more than $120 million for 216 projects in Wyoming's national parks, she said. The 2005 fiscal year budget includes an additional $40 million.
Norton said the Park Service's operating budget this year has more money per employee, per acre and per visitor "than at any time in history."
"Our operating budget is at an all-time high," Norton said.
Still, there has been criticism that the Bush administration, while focusing on needed maintenance projects, is overlooking larger problems of pollution and other potential impairments to the long-term health of national parks. Concerns have also been raised about the possibility of privatizing some jobs at national parks. At Grand Teton, private contractors will run the park's campgrounds this year.
"There are already a number of park operations operated by concessioners. That's been true for many years," Norton said. "Sometimes that is a cost savings and sometimes it's not."
Much of the money mentioned by Norton is targeted toward road maintenance, building restoration, water treatment upgrades and other infrastructure projects.
Yellowstone, which has received $81 million for projects since 2001, is scheduled to receive $9.8 million in the next fiscal year for the second phase of restoration for the Old Faithful Inn, which celebrates its 100th anniversary Friday. Money has also been allocated to replace failing water and wastewater treatment facilities at Norris and Madison.
At Canyon, money from the recreation demonstration fee program is being used to improve and rehabilitate Canyon Visitor Center.
Grand Teton has received $35 million since 2001 for work on roads, buildings and comfort stations, Norton said.
Other parks in Wyoming that have received funding for projects are Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, $1.8 million; Devils Tower National Monument, $793,000; Fort Laramie National Historic Site, $263,000; and Fossil Butte National Monument, $82,000.
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