Park Service sets Yellowstone snowmobile limit

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The National Park Service will limit snowmobile travel in Yellowstone National Park to 540 guided trips a day and allow an east entrance pass to remain open as long as there is no threat of avalanches, under a management decision issued Tuesday.

The new limits will take effect in the winter of 2008-09. This winter’s operations, which begin Dec. 19, will remain subject to rules followed for the past few winters, allowing up to 720 commercially guided snowmobiles a day in Yellowstone.

Snowmobile opponents wanted to see the machines eliminated from the park, saying they cause air and noise pollution, while snowmobile supporters want more, arguing many local businesses rely on income from snowmobilers.

In a recent letter, 86 members of Congress – none of them from states surrounding Yellowstone – asked the National Park Service to phase out snowmobiles due to pollution concerns.

Yellowstone had as many as 1,400 snowmobiles daily during the 1990s.