View General Contacts: Display a list of general contacts for the BlueRibbon Coalition.

General Contacts

Greg Mumm
BRC Executive Director
- Phone: 208-237-1008
- Fax: 208-237-9424
- brgreg@sharetrails.org
Brian Hawthorne
BRC Public Lands Policy Director
- Phone: 208-237-1008 (x102)
- Fax: 208-237-9424
- brbrian@sharetrails.org
Paul Turcke
Esq.
- Phone: (208) 331-1800
- Fax: (208) 331-1200
- pat@msbtlaw.com
Don Amador
BRC Western Representative
- Phone: (925) 625-6287
- Fax: (925) 625-5309
- brdon@sharetrails.org

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Last 5 Releases	Date
Klim USA and BlueRibbon Coalition team up to preserve snowmobile access to public lands	08/30/2010
BlueRibbon Coalition Supports H.R. 5580 - National Monument Designation Transparency and Accountability Act	07/28/2010
Park Service Releases Draft Range of Alternatives for Yellowstone Winter Use Plan	07/26/2010
Court Adopts Lewis and Clark Remedy - Restores Access	07/07/2010
BRC Founder Inducted Into AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame	06/15/2010

Park Service Moves Forward With 318 Snowmobile Limit in Yellowstone

October 19th, 2009

Contacts:

Jack Welch, Volunteer Consultant, BlueRibbon Coalition
- Phone: (303) 279-8436 or Cell (303) 324-7185
- Fax: (303) 279-8214
- Email: brjack_w@sharetrails.org
- Webpage: http://www.sharetrails.org/staff/#JackW

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Click image to enlarge.

POCATELLO, ID (October 19) — In a move that was unfortunately expected, the Park Service last Thursday released an Environmental Assessment (EA) that allows only 318 snowmobiles daily into Yellowstone this winter. This allocation is not sufficient to provide for a viable winter economy in gateway communities, and many visitors could be denied access.

It should be noted that the Park Service's 2007 decision, following the more robust Environmental Impact Statement process, determined that 540 daily snowmobile entries was an appropriate number. Jack Welch, BlueRibbon Special Projects Consultant, stated, "More people should be allowed in the Park, not less. People will be turned away this winter. This is not because there is a biological or scientific reason to do so; it is because winter visitors are caught in a game of politics and 318 is a convenient number between 0 and 540."

There are a few brighter spots in the EA. The decision does allow 25 snowmobiles per day with no best available technology (BAT) or guiding requirement to travel both directions on the Grassy Lake Road, providing access to the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. This accommodates historical activity for snowmobilers who unload at Flagg Ranch and ride the Grassy Lakes Road to Idaho, Island Park, and even West Yellowstone.

What will happen next? BlueRibbon and its pro-access partners in the snowmobile community will continue to review and work with the Park Service to provide a long term solution for "Winter Use" in Yellowstone. In the meantime, we will review our options on this EA decision. The next step in the process is for the Park Service to create an implementing rule and have it published. That rule would be the governing regulation for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. Finally, there remains the possibility that a courtroom development could somehow change things. As always, we will continue to post updates at www.saveyellowstonepark.com.

Remember, Yellowstone will open to the 2009-2010 season on December 15th!

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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org