Voyagers National Park reopens for Snowmobilers

- A federal judge has rejected claims that the National Park Service hurt gray wolf and bald eagle populations when it reopened 11 bays in Voyageurs National Park to snowmobiling in 2001.

U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank ruled Tuesday that the service acted properly when it reopened the bays, which had been closed for much of the 1990s.

The decision means the park service will keep the bays on Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan and Sand Point lakes open this winter, said Barbara West, superintendent of the 218,000-acre park on the Minnesota-Ontario border.

The park service initially closed 17 bays to snowmobilers in December 1992 because it believed wolves needed the frozen bays to kill deer, and renewed the closures the following two winters.

Snowmobilers sued the park service in 1994, but federal courts sided with the agency, holding that the decisions were temporary and must be renewed each year.

In 1996, the park service reopened six of the bays and, after research determined the closed bays weren't critical to the wolves' survival, reopened the remaining 11 bays in 2001.

The Voyageurs Region National Park Association and other groups questioned that data and sued the agency to keep the bays closed.

In his opinion, Frank said the park service was justified in making its decision.

"We're glad we can get this tumultuous chapter in Voyageurs National Park behind us," West said.

 June update:

ASA has received acknowledgement from Senator Greg of NH indicating that he and other Northern Senators are aware of our concerns and will be watching this bill as it moves through the Senate.  He indicated that he and others are concerned that the recreational sports not be negatively impacted by health care reform. 

The ASA has joined with the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) in supporting the Feingold-Collins bill.

For Immediate Release : May 20, 2003

House Passes Healthy Forests Legislation

Only U.S. Senate stands in way of safer, healthier forests

Washington , DC – Today the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved H.R. 1904, The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, by a vote of 256-170. Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA) and members of the Committee on Resources respond:

Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-CA) Statement

“This is great news for America ’s families, forests, wildlife habitat, endangered species, and environment. I’m proud that the Resources Committee and the House of Representatives responded to the need for this legislation in such a bi-partisan, balanced, common-sense fashion.

This bill will save our national forests for future generations and protect today’s communities from catastrophic forest fires. In fact, 256 members of the House agreed today that sound science, 21st century technology, and a streamlined regulatory framework could accomplish these goals and protect our environment at the same time. I encourage the Senate to act on this swiftly as we approach the start of a new fire season this year.”

Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) Statement

"Today’s passage of the Healthy Forests bill is tremendously good news for our forests, our watersheds, our species, and most importantly, for the citizens whose lives are endangered by catastrophic wildfire,” said Oregon Congressman Greg Walden. “It’s the people I represent whose homes are being burned, whose watersheds are threatened and whose entire communities are on 30-minute evacuation notices because of wildfire. They’re tired of us debating this issue and putting off a decision, and I am proud to be able to tell them that help is on the way.

This is a common sense, bipartisan measure that directs treatment projects where they’re needed most – in the wildland-urban interface and around our watersheds. And what's more, the legislation holds tremendous potential to create jobs for out-of-work Oregonians by hiring unemployed timber workers to perform forest thinning and other projects that are critical to forest health. I’m especially grateful for the support President Bush has given this initiative over the last year. When the President visited Medford with me last August, he saw firsthand how important it is to improve how our forests are managed. His commitment to forest management reform has remained strong and consistent since then, and I look forward to continuing to work with the President and his Administration to get these desperately needed forest projects underway as quickly as possible.”

Congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) Statement

"This legislation declares that America has to stop fiddling while her forests burn."

Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) Statement

“Today, we passed legislation that rids the bureaucratic red tape in managing our nation’s forests so that local communities can come together to improve forest health, reduce the threat of catastrophic fire, and prevent large scale insect and disease outbreaks in our national forests. With over 130,000 acres destroyed in Colorado alone by the Hayman fire last year, I am pleased to report that this comprehensive, bipartisan bill gives the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) the tools necessary to protect millions of acres of public land identified as exceptionally high risk of catastrophic wildfire, address the problems that thwart trained foresters from doing their job to restore the health of our forests and watersheds, and most importantly, make our communities safer.”

Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) Statement

“If we can send a man to the moon, we can manage our forests. This legislation provides a road map to sound environmental policy that will ultimately save our forests, the species that live in the forests and watersheds, while protecting our communities from devastating wildfires.”

Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) Statement

“If we don’t act quickly to clean out our forests, we’re in for another devastating fire season. I hope that the Senate wastes no time in passing this legislation so we can start making the necessary reforms to prevent more catastrophic wildfires this summer.”

Congressman Jim Gibbons (R-NV) Statement

"This year’s fire season is quickly approaching. We need to protect our forests now before they burn later. The Healthy Forests Act passed today will help us to protect our forests, habitats, and private property from devastating fires. Over 190 million acres are at risk to catastrophic wildfire. Why radical environmental groups would rather see these forests burn down to the ground than to allow responsible forest management is beyond me. The Healthy Forests Act allows us to efficiently clean out underbrush and dead trees in the most at-risk areas to protect our forests, habitats, watersheds, and communities from future wildfires."

Congressman John Peterson (R-PA) Statement

"Last year alone, wildfires forced thousands of Americans to abandon their homes, polluted much of our nation’s air and water supply, and left beautiful old growth forests and critical wildlife habitats charred for decades to come. There is widespread agreement that the best way to prevent catastrophic wildfires is to give professionals the necessary tools to manage our forests -- a common sense solution which has been hampered for decades by radical environmentalists who have exploited the judicial system and appeals process. But what is often overlooked is that active forest management is also critical for preventing disease, promoting wildlife diversity and ensuring a healthy, sustainable forest. If we continue to allow litigation to determine our forest management policy instead of scientists, forest ecologists and professional land managers, we are putting our forests in jeopardy and defeating the goal which we all share as conservationists -- to ensure a clean environment and healthy forests for our children and grandchildren to enjoy."

Congressman Chris Cannon (R-UT) Statement

“We have lost too many homes and too much forest to poor management. Just one catastrophic fire can destroy an entire eco-system for decades. It is past time to act. I urge the Senate to quickly move to save our public lands.”

Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) Statement

"For too long self-proclaimed preservationists have gotten away with literally loving our forests to death, tipping the scales of our justice system against doing the right thing. This common-sense bill will allow local managers to do just that – manage our forests, keeping our forests safe, protecting communities and property from the threat of wildfires."

Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) Statement

“Catastrophic forest fires have decimated giant Sequoia tress in my district. These trees were national treasures that survived smaller fires for many generations. If there is better evidence that fuel build-up has reached alarming levels in our forests, I have not seen it. This legislation will correct well-intentioned, but failed, forest management policy. We must pursue a balanced, active management approach to save our forests for future generations.”

Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ) Statement

“In Arizona , the Rodeo-Chediski and Indian fires destroyed over 500 homes and consumed 468,000 acres of forested lands. Forest management professionals need to be able to employ preventative techniques aimed at reducing the hazardous fuels build up around our residential areas. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act will provide ecologists and forestry officials with the necessary mandate to implement a balanced approach for our forests, ensuring the safety of the residents of rural Arizona and the natural grandeur of our forests for generations to come.”

Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM) Statement

“I ran for office so that I could help make life better for Southern New Mexico , and that is what I am doing. I am in the business of solving problems, not passing them down to our children. If we do nothing, our forests will become more unhealthy, the fires will become more severe, our homes more expensive and our rural way of life a thing of the past. Now is our chance to save our forests, homes, communities and the environment. It makes sense to thin our forests.”

For more information, contact Doug Heye or Brian Kennedy at (202) 226-9019.

http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/press/2003/0520ForestsPassed.htm

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May 6

There are two bills introduced into the Congress to override all of the work to preserve Snowmobiling in Yellowstone.  HR1130 and S965 are intended to eliminate all access and restrict any appeals or legal action to regain it.  This is clearly an corruption of the legal process and a violation of the core principles of "government by and for the people". 

Beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall implement the final rule to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, and Grand Teton National Park, and snowplane use in Grand Teton National Park, as published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 7260-7268). The Secretary shall not have the authority to modify or supersede any provision of that final rule.

The ASA will be actively opposing these bills.

**** 

The Murkowski bill is S 917  The full text can be found at  http://thomas.loc.gov/

Snowmobile Trails Nation wide:

MURKOWSKI SEEKS TO AID SNOWMACHINE TRAIL CONSTRUCTION

PALMER -- U.S. Sen Lisa Murkowski today announced that she soon will introduce legislation to direct more federal funding to construction of snowmachine trails nationwide -- an issue of special importance in Alaska.

Murkowski, during an appearance in the Mat-Su Borough, said she will introduce after the Easter recess federal legislation to direct federal fuel tax revenues paid by snowmachine enthusiasts to go towards acquisition, design, planning, construction and maintenance of snowmachine trails. The bill also will establish a snowmachine education program.

“Snowmachines are a growing form of recreation and in Alaska and other northern states, they go beyond recreation. In many areas, they are a regular form of transportation. They are used to visit neighbors, hunt for a family’s food supply and carry sick or injured people. They are as common as cars,” said Murkowski in her statement announcing her snowmachine measure.

“Unfortunately there is no existing program to provide for proper marking of snowmachine trails, to maintain the trails or even to encourage safe use of the machines. That needs to be corrected,” she said.

Under the bill the Secretary of Transportation will have to work with the snowmachine industry and others to estimate the amount of fuel tax attributable to snowmachine use in each state and then provide to that state the same amount
to be dedicated for trails. The bill also will require the government to spend at least $50,000 yearly on public education campaigns to encourage the safe use of snowmachines.

While at present 30 percent of the nation’s Recreational Trails program funding is reserved for trails for motorized uses, there is no guarantee that the actual money paid for fuel in snowmobiles is returned for motorized trail improvements.
The bill is intended to increase funding for local snowmachine trails.

“This bill takes nothing away from any other part of the Recreational Trails program. It simply ensures that each state spends on snowmachines what is collected from them. That is simple fairness,” said Murkowski in explaining her bill.

Yellowstone National Park: update

On March 25, 2003, the National Park Service published their Record Of Decision allowing very limited and controlled snowmobiling to continue in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

The announcement resulted from the Supplemental Environmental Impact Study that the NPS was ordered by the court to conduct. The new study took into account the impact of new environmentally friendly snowmobile technology.

The Park recommendation will allow snowmobiling to continue in designated areas contained within one percent of the park's vast 2.2 million acres. Snowmobiles will be allowed only on snow-covered roads, the same roads that are used in the summer months by tens of thousands of automobiles, busses and trucks. During the winter, these roads form a 185-mile network of white ribbons that enable the public to experience the unique winter beauty of America's first national park. New, low emission, new technology snowmobiles, which are now being manufactured by the snowmobile manufacturers, will be permitted in the park.

The Record Of Decision requires the following:

• A maximum of 950 snowmobiles will be allowed into Yellowstone on a daily basis.
• 80% of the entries will be guided and permitted through approved snowmobile rental agencies, which must use new technology snowmobiles.
• Park entrances will be managed adaptively and Park Rangers will strictly control the entrances to allow only permitted entrees.
• There will be strong enforcement of rules for all Yellowstone visitors including cross-country skiers, snow-shoers, snowcoach operators, and snowmobilers.

The final rules and regulations outlining management options and licensing procedures for all individuals interested in entering the Park will be completed by the fall of 2003.

Immediately following the announcement to allow restricted and limited snowmobiling and recreational access to Yellowstone during the winter, the Fund For Animals, the Bluewater Network, and the Ecology Center filed suit in Washington DC District Court to overturn the Record Of Decision. The lawsuit goal is to terminate the ROD and halt snow road grooming in Yellowstone, thereby closing the Park to all Americans for the winter. The court designation and time frame for the case is yet to be determined

Forest Operating Plans:

The ASA is working with the White Mountain National Forest to maintain existing snowmobile trails within the 15 year opperation plan.  Proposed increases in wilderness designation would remove and exclude motorized access to large tracts of the forest.

Disability Access:

The ASA is actively working to include the snowmobile as a recognized and authorized vehicle for persons with disabilities within all of the nations National Forests.

The Environment and Standards:

New EPA regulations announced in October call for a stringent three-phase reduction in snowmobile emissions. By 2006, emission levels must be reduced to 70 percent of levels permitted in 2002. By 2010, emissions must be reduced to half of present-day levels, and by 2012 emissions can amount to only 30 percent of present levels.

The new EPA standards must be met by the manufacturers based on the average emission levels of their respective product lines, which will enable them to introduce new emission reduction technology across their entire product lines. So that environmental benefits are achieved as early as possible, the new regulations provide incentives in the form of credits for producing snowmobiles that achieve the new standards. All major manufacturers are working diligently to meet the new EPA regulations.

Manufacturers work toward better Foerst relations:

IMSA released the following:

Snowmobilers across the United States enjoy recreating in our national forests, managed by the Department of Agriculture. Approximately 30 percent of snowmobile trails in the United States are located on National Forest land. There are over 192 million acres of Forests managed by our National Forest system, which serve as a prime destination for snowmobilers and outdoor enthusiasts of all types. In addition to the more than 40 thousand miles of snowmobile trails, there are over 4400 developed campgrounds in our National Forests.

I have recently visited some National Forest Field offices and it appears that most Forest Service employees have a new lease on life and are excited about their jobs. The foresters are excited because Secretary Veneman and Forest Service Chief, Dale Bosworth, made it clear that the US Forests are an important part of American life. Our forests and our ability to enjoy them is important for our health and well being. The new Forest Service Chief, Dale Bosworth, has made it clear that employees of the Forest Service have important jobs and that their input will be seriously considered and used in the decision making process.

This is a huge change in attitude by the Forest Service employees, who under the Clinton/Gore administration were overlooked by an overbearing Washington Bureaucracy, headed by Chief Michael Dombeck and directed by environmental fringe elements such as the Wilderness Society and others. It wasn't long ago when Forest Service employees in Michigan, for example, had to begin to deal with a national directive to determine how to manage over 168,368 acres of National Forest land contained in the Hiawatha, Huron-Manistee, and Ottawa National Forests - that were suddenly determined to be roadless, even though roads existed. Those in the business knew this was the first step in designating this huge landmass as Designated Wilderness in Michigan. This action, if not stopped, would have put off limits a huge landmass to over 98% of all outdoor recreationists in Michigan. Similar actions were occurring in most states to include 79,845 acres in the Chippewa and Superior National forests in Minnesota, and 74,000 acres in the National Forests in Wisconsin.

The list goes on and on, but now the National Forest management is reaching out and looking for comments and input into the management of our National Forests.

Most of us snowmobile a considerable amount of the time on National Forest Land. Most, if not all of the National Forests, have a Friends of the Forest group that meet throughout the year to discuss recreation plans and Forest plans. Now that we have a new management team in place managing our Forests in a proactive multi-use fashion, I encourage all snowmobilers, any time of the year to stop in when driving by the headquarters of a National Forest. Introduce yourself, say hello, and if you have the time and energy please volunteer to serve on a Friends of the Forest committee and or provide input on the Forest plan.

In and around all of our National Forests, we have local snowmobile clubs that work very closely with the Forest Service Managers and all of those clubs could certainly use your support. Working with the US Forest Service staff, snowmobile clubs have developed a wonderful riding system in the forests. The support for the trail systems really goes beyond your purchasing a snowmobile registration decal and or riding permit. The great trail system within our forests was not only built with your tax dollars, registration, and permit fees, but also by hard work from your local snowmobile clubs and the state snowmobile association that coordinated the building, grooming, signage and maintenance on those trails.

Most employees of the National Forest Service are outdoor recreationists and they love to ride. I have had a great time snowmobiling with Forest Service staff, and I am looking forward to doing more of the same this year.

Remember that the National Forests are ours. Please take a few minutes out of your day the next time you drive by a Forest Service Headquarters and stop in, say hi and introduce yourself as a snowmobiler.