June 17, 2004
Peterson helps defeat effort to ban snowmobiles in Yellowstone
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, Congressman Collin Peterson (D-Minn) helped defeat an amendment debated on the floor of the House of Representatives that would have banned the use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
“If we’re going to ban snowmobiles, we might as well ban cars and RV’s, because they cause much more noise and environmental damage,” Peterson said. “The snowmobile manufacturers - and Arctic Cat and Polaris in particular - have made tremendous improvements to their machines, actually exceeding the latest noise and emissions standards set by the Park Service.”
Peterson, along with Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn) and many others who opposed the ban proposal, pointed out that snowmobile users follow the rules and requirements that Yellowstone has established for those who want to visit the park in wintertime. In November of 2003, Yellowstone officials announced that the Polaris and Arctic Cat snowmobiles met the “new, stringent noise and pollution requirements” that had been implemented.
Snowmobiles in Yellowstone are primarily used for group excursions and guided trips. They are restricted to use on plowed roads and must abide by speed limits.
“Polaris and Arctic Cat have spent millions of dollars to develop and produce their cleaner and quieter 4-stroke engine powered machines,” Peterson said. “It’s ridiculous to say that these new snowmobiles are causing any more damage than the cars, motorcycles and RV’s that pass through the park on any given day.
Polaris Industries and Arctic Cat Inc., major manufacturers of snowmobiles in the U.S., employ around 3,500 people in Peterson’s district.
“Snowmobiling in Yellowstone is a wonderful way to visit the park, and allows riders a unique and beautiful experience in the winter,” Peterson said.
-30-