December 18, 2003 – A federal court ruling against the Bush administration's snowmobile plan for Yellowstone National Park will create short-term hardship for some businesses outside Yellowstone, but will be a boon to others and presents a rare opportunity for towns such as West Yellowstone to diversify their economies, the nation's first and only organization representing non-motorized winter recreationists said.

“We understand there will be some local economic disruption as a result of this ruling, but we also know skiers and other winter recreation enthusiasts will flock to Yellowstone and its gateway communities once snowmobiles are no longer in the park,” said Winter Wildlands Alliance Executive Director Sally Grimes. “Skiers have been telling us they're ready to return to places like West Yellowstone, and we're confident they'll play a key role as the community expands its tourism base.”

Winter Wildlands, based in Boise, represents more than 17 million skiers, snowshoers, snowboarders, and other non-motorized snowsports enthusiasts It is the lone recreation group among the six plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit over the National Park Service's winter use plan for Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan on Wednesday set aside the Park Service's plan to allow nearly 1,000 snowmobiles a day into Yellowstone and Grand Teton, reinstating a Clinton-era plan to phase out snowmobile use in both parks. The effect of the court's ruling is to reduce snowmobile use in the parks this year by half, eliminating it next year.

“The important thing for Yellowstone and for those who want to enjoy its natural beauty in the winter is to move ahead as soon as possible toward replacing snowmobiles with more snowcoaches to allow all Americans to visit Yellowstone in the winter,” Grimes said. “Yellowstone is not closed this winter, nor will it be closed next winter. All Americans will still enjoy access to this special place. Now that the court has ruled, it's up to all of us to work with the Park Service and the communities surrounding these magnificent parks to expand winter recreation opportunities in and around the parks.”

Grimes said it's critical that the Park Service, Congress, local businesses and government leaders, and snowmobile organizations work together to find new ways to draw more winter visitors to West Yellowstone and other gateway communities. That includes asking Congress for more funds to expand the Yellowstone snowcoach fleet and to better educate the public on diverse winter recreation opportunities in and around Yellowstone. For instance, the Park Service was prepared to spend more than $1 million in tax dollars this winter to assess snowmobile pollution levels and other impacts, and to hire more law enforcement officers. That money can now be used to expand local economies.

“The visiting public needs to be made aware that tomorrow, next week, and throughout the winter they can continue to visit Yellowstone's popular attractions,” Grimes said. “Skiers and snowshoers will return, and we think this can be a win-win case for everyone. It's our hope that rather than being known as just the 'snowmobile capitol of the world,' towns like West Yellowstone will become known as the 'Winter Wonderland of the world.'”

Other groups involved in the Yellowstone snowmobile case are: Greater Yellowstone Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club. The organizations were represented by Earthjustice.

Grimes said Winter Wildlands plans to hold its annual skier rally for Yellowstone as scheduled this Valentine's Day. WWA expects more than 300 skiers, snowshoers, and others to fill West Yellowstone hotels and restaurants over the long Presidents' Day weekend, as they did last year, in a show of economic support for local businesses. WWA officials will also seek to meet with local business leaders on how skiers can play a role in expanding the town's winter economy.

Founded in 2000 by grassroots groups throughout the country, Winter Wildlands Alliance is the only national organization working to protect a quality human-powered winter recreation experience. For more information, contact Sally Grimes, Executive Director, at 208.336.4203 or visit www.winterwildlands.org.