Snowmobile folks NEED our help...

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Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

The National Park Service has initiated the final leg in the Rulemaking process to allow snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park.  PLEASE NOTE: This season is not affected by this new EIS... The Park is OPEN!

But this new process presents a big opportunity for the snowmobile community.

Please read our action alert below and help us thwart the agenda of the anti-access crowd.

Thanks!

Brian Hawthorne, Public Lands Director Blue Ribbon Coalition

YELLOWSTONE SNOWMOBILE UPDATE -- ACTION ITEM INCLUDED

It has been a long, hard fight to keep Yellowstone National Park open to snowmobiles. Thanks to involved members like you, we've been able to thwart the total closure plans of the extremists.

And thanks in large part to Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming and Senator Conrad Burns of Montana the U.S. Senate approved legislation that states: "notwithstanding any other provision of law, the National Park Service final winter use rules published in... the Federal Register for November 10, 2004. ..shall be in force and in effect for the winter use season of 2005-2006 that commences on or about December 15, 2005." This effective legislation muted claims in at least two of the lawsuits that could close the park to snowmobiles.

Now, a new process Rulemaking process presents an opportunity to actually push the extremists back! Although the multi-million dollar campaign to eliminate snowmobiles from the Park has failed, arbitrary and unfair restrictions such as the requirement to use a commercial guide remain.

Because the Park Service is required to conduct one more Environmental Impact Statement, the snowmobile community has a chance to improve the situation.

However, the time is short comments on scoping on the new EIS must be received by September 1, 2005.  We know the anti-snowmobile folks continue to press the Park Service to ban snowmobiles, so it is important that you also speak up and let the Park Service know that continued snowmobiling access to these parks is important!

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

I ask you to review the form letter at the BlueRibbon Rapid Action Center After reviewing the comment letter, please fill in your name and address and click to send it through the system to BlueRibbon.  We will present your letter, along with the letters from tens of thousands of other BRC members to the Park Service in person.

CAN YOU DO MORE?

Yes! For maximum effectiveness, access the letter by clicking here

http://capwiz.com/share/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=79147 11 , then print the letter out, add handwritten comments about what the snowmobile experience in Yellowstone means to your family, and mail it directly to the Park Service!

I know we have asked for your help writing letters many times over the past eight years to help keep snowmobiling in these national parks. So far we have been successful and can still snowmobile in Yellowstone through the end of the 2006-2007 winter season.

Remember, comments must be received by midnight September 1, 2005 to be considered! Thanks in advance for your help. Visit our dedicated Yellowstone website for up to date information at www.saveyellowstonepark.com

ADDITIONAL INFO:

For additional information about this planning process go to the National Park Service website listed below.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/winteruse/index.htm

Note: You may also submit comments by clicking the "submit comments on scoping" button on the above winter use website or by e-mail directly to

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?projectID=12047& amp;documentId=11727

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