Posted on 12/27/2003, 3:23:28 PM by Daryl L.Hunter
Activist U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan has sided with the Eco-tally-ban in the Eco-tally-ban's effort to kick tax-paying Americans out of the Yellowstone. A quarter of a million visitors visit Yellowstone each winter 90% by snowmobile because snowcoaches suck as a way to see the park (fogged over windows).
Eco-radicals in their never ending effort to revert Yellowstone Parks' usage to only snow coaches and cross country skiers has found a gullible pawn in Emmet G. Sullivan. Coincidentally it is Judge Emmet G. Sullivan that has been trying to nail Dick Cheney to the cross for the past three years for consulting the energy industry instead of the Sierra Club about America's energy bill.
Emmet G. Sullivan's decision demonstrates a gross disregard for the 85 million dollar a year snowmobile tourism industry that is the backbone of several Greater Yellowstone community's winter economic well being. Emmet G. Sullivan's decision shows a gross lack of empathy for the 400 jobs that will be lost this year and a matching number next year when the snowmobile ban is complete. This decision spits in the eye of common sense, human decency and hundreds of hard working families.
Eco-tally-ban associate the "Winter Wildlands Alliance" Executive Director Sally 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."
If you read this analytically Sally Grimes wants the government to subsidize a snowcoach industry that can't support itself due to lack of interest by the mainstream American tourist, a move that would subsidize the niche sport of Sally's choice (cross country skiing). A feeble attempt to ease her conscience for her part in ruining the lives of many who have spent their lives building a legal business and depend on the snowmobile industry to feed their families. It also infers a tacit admission of the economical devastation she is complicit in delivering to the Greater Yellowstone communities.
If Wyoming officials and snowmobile industry lawyers are unable to overturn Sullivan's callous ruling lawmakers will pass legislation to overturn this thoughtless, ludicrous decision. Members of Montana and Wyoming's congressional delegations harshly criticized Tuesday's ruling.
Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-WY said in a statement. "It's outrageous that the environmental lobby continues to insist that decisions on how best to use our public lands should be made by liberal courts on the East Coast and not by the people who depend on our public lands to make a living,"
Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., was also angry but his comments were not as sharp as Cubin's. "This decision is a blow to all Yellowstone visitors and the communities who serve them," Burns said. "There is a way to manage for multiple uses of Yellowstone, and this decision doesn't recognize that reality.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., also criticized Sullivan's ruling. "I'm disappointed by this ruling because I don't think an outright ban is necessary," Baucus said. "We must continue to work together to balance existing uses, protect the park and enhance the visitor experience, while creating and protecting jobs in the surrounding communities."
" Ron Gatheridge who owns a snowmobile rental shop said. "I finally got something where I can pay the bills, but someone else has decided I can't do it. I thought I was set for the rest of my life, but here I am at 51 and I have to find something else to do."
West Yellowstone businessman Randy Roberson figured he would get a permit to guide trips into Yellowstone Park this winter, and invested $310,000 in new snowmobiles that would meet new pollution requirements for the park. Now he is stuck with $10,000.00 snowmobiles that have no resale value because the only market for 4-stroke snowmobiles in the world was Yellowstone Park.
Bob Coe, owner of the Pahaska Tepee lodge a couple miles east of Yellowstone, said he is considering closing down for the winter if the ruling is not reversed. His lodge employs about two dozen workers in the winter. "We got a lot of people worrying about losing their jobs," he said.
Clyde Seely, owner of West Yellowstone's Holiday Inn, fears Tuesday's ruling reinstating the limits set by the Clinton administration will be devastating to his company. "Many businesses are going to go out of business. They won't be able to survive. A lot of people are going to lose their jobs," he said.
A statement on page one of the Flag Ranch Resort website says, "Due to recent limitations placed on snowmobiling in Yellowstone by the National Park Service we are unable to offer lodging this winter season." This means many lost jobs.
The economic devastation has already begun.
| Daryl L. Hunter - Editor |
On the bright side, maybe fewer people will be killed if Yellowstone explodes in the winter.
I failed to factor that, I guess that the glass is really half full!
| Daryl L. Hunter - Editor |
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.
It does get crowded between Christmas and new years and during Presidents weekend the rest of the time it is mostly as you saw it. The Saturday of Presidents Weekend at 9 AM is when the groups always have their press conference at the west enterance as that is the one day and one hour of the year that you can count on a blue haze at the entrance station. this is when thy invite sympethetic congressman for photo opps with gate-workers who are instructed to put on their ceremonial gas masks.
I think that this shameful decision will be overturned but in case it doesn't you may want to go this year as it could be the last.
| Daryl L. Hunter - Editor |
In Alaska, the park rangers back off when 50-75 snowmachiners practice a little American civil disobedience. They will come after single families but not when entire communities turn out. They don't want to make the evening news.
The mountains is where my soul has always lived at.
You can say I'm rollin, floatin wide open.
Movin so fast, Park Rangers didn't have time to start chokin.
This is an occasion where some "civil disobedience" might be useful.
Also, Impeach the Judge!!!
Stay Safe !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.