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December 29, 2000

Snowmobiles might survive at Crater Lake

  • News you can use after 5 p.m.

    • CRATER LAKE, Ore. (AP) -- Snowmobiles may continue to be allowed at Crater Lake National Park after all.

    A portion of the budget recently approved by Congress and signed by President Clinton includes a clause that prevents the administration from proposing any rule changes involving snowmobiling in national parks until July 31, 2002.

    Press aides for Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said they don't expect the Bush administration act to reverse the clause.

    "Quite likely he (Bush) will not pursue the same restrictive policies the Clinton administration has," Jeff Eager, Walden's press secretary, told the Herald and News of Klamath Falls.

    Last April, the National Park Service announced new restrictions on the use of snowmobiles for recreation at more than two dozen parks, monuments and recreational areas.

    As the vehicles have grown in popularity, a growing number of complaints have been filed by park visitors annoyed by their noise and pollution. Some opponents of snowmobile use say the vehicles also do damage to the parks.

    Snowmobiling at Crater Lake is limited to an eight-mile stretch along the North Entrance Road.

    Crater Lake superintendent Chuck Lundy said the park recently received a draft environmental assessment that evaluates the effects of snowmobiling in the park.

    Park officials have not been officially notified on the budget amendment, so Lundy was unsure if his staff would begin reviewing the draft.

    The draft looks into the effects of snowmobiles on noise and air and water quality and evaluates the environmental impacts of not allowing snowmobiling in the park.

    The Department of Interior had been preparing general regulations that would have banned snowmobiling in several parks including Crater Lake as of next winter.




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