[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E59-E60]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         PEACE AND QUIET OF THE PARKS NEED CONTINUED PROTECTION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, the new Administration is 
reviewing some of the actions of their predecessors. That is 
understandable and in some cases may be appropriate.
  But I am concerned about reports that the review may lead to actions 
to delay or undo important recent initiatives to protect the public 
health and safety and the quality of our environment.
  For example, the Forest Service recently completed development of new 
rules for the management of the remaining roadless areas in the 
national forests. They are sound, balanced rules to protect these areas 
that are so important for fish and wildlife, clean water, recreation, 
and other values. They should be allowed to stand.
  Similarly, the National Park Service has acted to reduce the noise 
and other adverse effects on some parks for snowmobiles and aircraft. 
Here again, it would be a mistake to simply discard the work that has 
been done to respond to some very real problems.
  As the Denver Post noted in a recent editorial, ``the Park Service 
didn't react arbitrarily. The agency held extensive public hearings, 
conducted numerous scientific studies, and invited tens of thousands of 
written citizen comments. . . . the Park Service was responding to a 
public outcry, so the new policies in fact largely emerged from the 
grassroots.  . . . Our beloved national parks must be preserved for 
future generations . . . the ban on loud, intrusive machines in these 
awe-inspiring wonderlands should remain.''
  Mr. Speaker, I agree, and for the benefit of our colleagues, I am 
submitting the full Denver Post editorial for inclusion in the Record.

                 [From the Denver Post, Jan. 23, 2001]

                       Don't Disrupt Parks Policy

       President Bush should stand up to the narrow political 
     interests who would wreck the tranquility of our national 
     parks.
       For years, visitors at Yellowstone and Grand Canyon 
     National parks often complained about snowmobiles in 
     Yellowstone, and airplane and helicopter flights over the 
     Grand Canyon. Clearly, the National Park Service had to craft 
     a new policy responding to numerous citizens infuriated by 
     the noise, pollution, wildlife harrassment and inappropriate 
     machine use. In Yellowstone, for instance, visitors couldn't 
     even hear Old Faithful's great roar over the constant whine 
     of hundreds of snowmobiles.
       But the Park Service didn't react arbitrarily. The agency 
     held extensive public hearings, conducted numerous scientific 
     studies and invited tens of thousands of written citizen 
     comments.
       Based on that input, the Park Service imposed the bans on 
     Grand Canyon aircraft flights and snowmobiles in Yellowstone.
       However, some conservative Western politicians want 
     President Bush to discard these thoughtful policies. In a 
     Dec. 27 letter, U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen, a Utah Republican, told 
     Bush he should overturn a host of Clinton administration 
     public land policies. At the top of Hansen's promachine wish 
     list: the ban on Grand Canyon aircraft flights and 
     snowmobiles in Yellowstone and other national parks.

[[Page E60]]

       Hansen wrongly asserts that these policies were imposed 
     top-down and would harm good stewardship of our public lands. 
     Nothing could be further from the truth. IN both the 
     Yellowstone and Grand Canyon cases, the Park Service was 
     responding to a public outcry, so the new policies in fact 
     largely emerged from the grassroots.
       Moreover, most people who visit either park don't use the 
     machines. Instead, they walk, hike, ski, ride horses or 
     mules, or take the family car, public transportation or, in 
     Yellowstone, the quieter snow coach tours.
       By contrast, of the 130,000 miles of snowmobile trails in 
     the continental United States, only 670 miles are in the 
     national parks. So Hansen's assertion that efforts to protect 
     the parks' tranquility somehow restrict public access are 
     just plain bizarre.
       Our beloved national parks must be preserved for future 
     generations, not sacrificed for short-term political 
     gamesmanship.
       Mr. President, as a Texan you know one of the greatest 
     qualities about the West is the pockets of public land where 
     it's still possible to find a little peace and quiet. Please 
     don't ruin that irreplaceable experience at our national 
     parks. The ban on loud, intrusive machines in these awe-
     inspiring wonderlands should remain.

     

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