Conservation groups challenge sled decision

JACKSON, Wyo. — Six conservation groups will challenge the National Park Service's decision to continue allowing snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

The groups said Wednesday they would seek a court review of the decision. A court review means a court would re-examine the case to ensure it complies with the law. A court has to agree to the review.

The conservation organizations challenging the decision are the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Winter Wildlands Alliance, and Sierra Club.

The groups announced their plans one day after the Park Service issued a final decision to allow 540 sleds per day in Yellowstone. Conservation groups have long advocated eliminating snowmobiles from Yellowstone in favor of snowcoaches, which are essentially vans mounted on tracks.

The groups said the decision to allow snowmobiles ignores the Park Service's overarching mandate to give highest priority to conservation of national park resources.

"The past four seasons have shown that Yellowstone's winter visitors are increasingly embracing modern snowcoaches, and the health of the park has improved because of it," Amy McNamara of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition said in a release. "The National Park Service's decision makes a U-turn on that progress and will lead to unacceptable impacts in our first national park."

News of litigation plans did not come as a surprise to most who have been following the issue for more than a decade.

"The conservation groups are not satisfied with anything other than no snowmobiles in the park," Jack Welch with the Blue Ribbon Coalition, a group involved in advocating for continued snowmobile access in the parks, said.

Welch said his group is not totally satisfied with the final decision, in part because of a requirement that all snowmobiles be accompanied by a hired guide.

The new park snowmobile numbers take effect in the 2008-09 winter. This winter will operate under temporary rules, allowing 720 sleds a day. About 280 sleds have entered Yellowstone on average in the last three years.