GOVERNOR MARTZ REQUESTS COOPERATING AGENCY STATUS ON YELLOWSTONE WINTER USE SUPPLEMENTAL EIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2001
CONTACT: Shane M. Hedges
Governor’s Office
406-444-5522

HELENA, MONTANA -- Governor Judy Martz on Friday sent a letter to Steve Iobst, Acting Superintendent of Grand Teton National Park, requesting that the state of Montana be granted cooperating agency status on the development of a supplemental winter use environmental impact statement for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

The supplemental EIS is a part of a settlement agreement reached in a suit filed by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association against the Secretary of the Interior. Subsequently, Wyoming joined as an intervener with ISM and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition joined as an intervener with the Secretary.

“I welcome this process to more seriously evaluate the possibilities for use of new cleaner, quieter snowmobiles in our national parks,” said Governor Martz. “Tourism and related activities are our second largest industry in Montana, and in fact, are the lifeline of communities like West Yellowstone. It is my sincere hope that Montana will be granted cooperating agency status to evaluate newly available information related to the impacts of winter use in the parks.”

According to court documents, the “National Park Service has determined that preparing a supplemental EIS regarding winter use in the three parks and considering new information and circumstances will further the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act.”

Martz indicated that she hopes the NPS will “consider new information and data submitted regarding new snowmobile technologies, including among other things exhaust, noise emissions and engine design.”

“I have long been opposed to an outright ban on snowmobiles in Yellowstone,” said Martz. “It is my sincere hope that review of new data will show that we can find common ground to allow technologically advanced snowmobiles in the park. I am committed to working together to protect rural communities like West Yellowstone.”

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