Alaska: Ban Snowmachines in Denali National Park
12/16/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Action Alert: BAN SNOWMACHINES ROUND II: NORTH TO ALASKA!
Source: Grass Roots Environmental Effectiveness Network
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: December 16, 1999
The National Park Service is taking comments on new regulations
proposed for Denali National Park, among which is one that would ban
snowmachines from the park's core, the two million acre old Mt.
McKinley National Park. Last year, the NPS instituted a temporary ban
on snowmachines in the core area, but well organized and vocal
snowmobilers succeeded in getting the courts to overturn the temporary
ban. Even though snowmachining wasn't allowed in the old park prior
to 1980, the snowmobilers are trying to say that these loud,
polluting, noxious machines are a "traditional activity" allowed on
public lands by the The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation
Act of 1980 (ANILCA). The temporary ban was overturned primarily
because the judge in the case found that the NPS had not followed the
proper procedures. This comment period is the NPS's chance to do it
right and get legal regulations permanently prohibiting snowmachines
in Denali's core area.
Legal issues aside this is a very important opportunity to protect the
ecological integrity of one of our nation's premier national parks.
Besides protecting the core of Denali, this ban would set a very
important precedent for snowmobile use in some 36 other national park
units. Both Glacier and Lassen Volcano National Parks have
permanently banned snowmachines because they represent a threat to
wildlife and natural resources, not to mention the solitude and
quality wilderness experience that visitors expect. The NPS is
currently considering its policy for snowmobiles in Yellowstone, Grand
Teton and Voyageurs National Parks amid intense efforts by winter
thrill seekers to keep these parks as their motorized winter
playgrounds. The NPS wants to ban snowmachines in Denali and they
really need your support to follow through. The deadline for comments
is January 11, 2000 so please take a moment and send a letter.
Roger Featherstone
GREEN Director
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GREEN is a project of Defenders of Wildlife designed to serve
grassroots wildlife and wildlands advocates. GREEN policy positions do
not necessarily represent those of Defenders of Wildlife.
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WHAT TO DO
1) Send comments in writing by Jan. 11, 2000 to: Superintendent,
Denali National Park and Preserve, P.O. Box 9, McKinley Park, Alaska
99755-0009,
2) Your comments may want to include the following points.
* ANILCA authorized continued use of snowmobiles (and motorboats and
airplanes) in parks and wilderness for specific purposes - "access to
traditional activities" and necessary "travel." Park Service
regulations should specifically define "traditional activities" as
those necessary for rural living - not "not thrill seeking, wildlife
harassing recreation."
* The entire wilderness core of Denali - the "old Mt. McKinley
National Park" - must be closed to snowmobiles. The "traditional
activities" authorized by ANILCA did not occur in the "old park" prior
to 1980, and do not occur there today.
BACKGROUND:
For more information contact Ken Kehrer, Jr. at the above address or
by calling (907) 683-2294
By law, most announcements for public comment are placed in the
Federal Register. These announcement contain appropriate contact
information, the deadlines and a lot of other background information.
You can obtain the Federal Register notices online by doing a search
using key words and dates at:
.
Notice appears in the Federal Register November 12, 1999, vol. 64,
Number 218, pages 61563-61572.
A summary of the proposed regulations may be found on the park's Web
site at .