Thomas introduces bill to eliminate snowmobile ban

Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001 | 9:39 a.m.

Instead of a ban, Thomas' measure would direct the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service to develop emission and noise standards for snowmobiling. Only snowmobiles that meet those standards would be allowed in national parks, Thomas said.

"I'm not interested in watching snowmachining in national parks continue as it has in the past," he said. "No one will deny that there are issues that need to be addressed."

Thomas is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee on national parks.

His bill would allow snowmobiling to continue at traditional levels while noise and emission standards are being developed.

Jon Catton, spokesman for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, said the bill could result in no change to the snowmobile traffic, allowing the machines to continue polluting the environment and harassing wildlife in national parks.

He said his group will fight to preserve the ban, arguing a majority of people want it. A separate ban in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks is intended to phase out snowmobiling by the winter of 2003-2004.