Yellowstone National Park News Release
YELLOWSTONE REMINDS VISITORS OF WINTER SEASON
September 24, 2003 ~ PR 03-116
Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced that the park is scheduled to open for the winter season at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2003, weather and snow conditions permitting. "As a result of the March 2003 Record of Decision for winter use, we have had a number of inquiries from park visitors about what to expect this coming winter," Superintendent Lewis noted. "During the 2003-2004 winter season, several changes will be implemented."
For the winter season of 2003-2004:
- Only 950 snowmobiles will be allowed in the park each day, and everyone entering the park by snowmobile must have a snowmobile entrance reservation. If traveling with a commercial guide (80 percent of all snowmobile entries will be commercially guided), reservations will be made through that company. If traveling independently and operating a personal or rented snowmobile, you can make a snowmobile entrance reservation by calling Xanterra Parks & Resorts at: 307-344-7311 between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time. There is a cost for the snowmobile entrance reservation, and visitors will still be required to pay the park entrance fee.
- All commercially guided operators will be required to use snowmobiles that meet the park's best available technology (BAT) requirements. Currently, several models of snowmobiles produced by Arctic Cat and Polaris have been certified as meeting these new noise and pollution requirements. The list of approved BAT snowmobiles is available on this Page. For non-commercially guided snowmobiles, BAT snowmobiles are not required in the 2003-2004 winter.
- All snowmobile operators are required to have a valid state driver's permit; no learner permits are allowed.
Beginning the winter of 2004-2005:
- All snowmobile entries will be guided (80 percent commercial / 20 percent non-commercial).
- All snowmobiles that enter the park must be BAT.
The park's new Winter Use Plan is the result of a decade of comments, research, and lawsuits. The plan's goals include providing a cleaner, quieter, and safer winter experience for visitors, employees and wildlife. A proposed rule outlining the implementation of the Winter Use Plan is out for public review and comment until October 14, 2003. After the public comments are reviewed, any necessary changes will be incorporated, and a final rule will be published before the start of this winter season.
For more information on visiting the park during the winter, including the park's 2003-2004 Winter Trip Planner, visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/winteruse/index.htm or call: 307-344-7381.
-NPS-
Information provided by the NPS
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