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Government won't delay start of snowmobile season for judge

By JACK SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Lawyers for the National Park Service said they will try to give a federal judge here at least three days to review new rules for snowmobilers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks before the winter season begins.


 But the government cannot guarantee that the rules will be published before Dec. 13, or three business days before winter season opens at the two parks, lawyers said in court papers filed Monday.

Nor will it delay the season's Dec. 17 start if the final, detailed rules are not ready to be published in time, the lawyers said.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan is deciding whether the Bush administration acted appropriately when it decided to set aside the Clinton administration's plan to phase out snowmobiles from the popular Western parks, which sit at the corner of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Instead of a ban, the Bush administration will limit the type and number of machines allowed to enter the parks. When fully enacted, the new rules will require snowmobiles to be built with cleaner and quieter engines; riders to make reservations and travel in guided groups; and rangers to monitor the machines' effect on wildlife, air quality and noise and adjust daily limits as needed.

Several conservation groups have sued the government over the plan, challenging both the decision to rewrite the rules so snowmobiling could continue and whether the new rules will adequately protect the park's natural resources and wildlife.

They want Sullivan to set aside the Bush administration decision, a move that would put the plan to phase out snowmobiles in motion.

With the rule-making process one step away from being finished, Sullivan asked government lawyers last week whether they could give him at least three days to read the plan before the season begins.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sansonetti cited the lengthy government review process when explaining there may not be enough time for that to happen, while delaying the start of the season would inconvenience snowmobilers and contractors who expect it to start on Dec. 17.

On the Net:

Yellowstone National Park: http://www.nps.gov/yell

Greater Yellowstone Coalition: http://www/greateryellowstone.org

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