Yellowstone closure overruled

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jul 27, 2008 | by Jim Drinkard Associated Press

A new draft of the rule dated Nov. 10 still included language about closing the pass. But an unidentified official's handwritten marginal note asked, "Sylvan Pass, should we adjust this language to open door to collaborate and adaptive mgt.?" -- the first indication that the decision might be changing.

When the Park Service published its policy on winter use of the park 10 days later, the idea of shutting down the pass in winter was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the agency created an additional step in the decision process: a task force largely of representatives of local business and political interests to further study what to do about Sylvan Pass. To conservationists, the move seemed clearly designed to reverse the recommendations of the experts and professional managers.

On June 4, after a series of private meetings, the task force announced its decision to keep up the use of explosives to keep the pass open in winter. That was the recommendation ratified Monday by Snyder, the Park Service regional director.

One member of the task force that recommended the policy reversal was Republican state Rep. Colin Simpson, son of former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson. Colin Simpson says the community applied "whatever political pressure we could bring to bear," and that led to the turnabout. "There was knowledge at high levels of the issue," Simpson said. Asked whether Cheney was involved, he said: "I'm sure he was aware of it."

Stevens' conservation group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the use of snowmobiles in the park, and as part of the case asked the government for its complete rule-making record on the Sylvan Pass issue. When the 40,000-page record was handed over, however, hundreds of documents were withheld. Government lawyers claim the documents, including the faxes from Yellowstone to the White House, are privileged and not subject to disclosure.

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On the Net:

National Park Service decision: tinyurl.com/62ykuf