Environmentalists sue over groomed roads in park

BILLINGS – Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit over the National Park Service’s plan for allowing snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park for the next three winters.

The groups claim the government failed to take into account the effect that roads groomed for snow machines have on wildlife, particularly bison, under the temporary plan.

The complaint brought by the Fund for Animals, Bluewater Network and three individuals names as defendants Interior Secretary Gale Norton and National Park Service Director Fran Mainella. The lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., after the Park Service issued a “finding of no significant impact” for its winter use plans, an attorney said.

The groups are asking the judge to prevent officials from implementing the plan and to stop trail grooming “in some or all of” Yellowstone until there is compliance with environmental laws and Park Service policies.

Yellowstone spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews referred calls on the lawsuit to a spokesman at the Department of Justice, who did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday.

Beginning this winter, the Park Service plans to allow up to 720 guided snowmobiles each day into Yellowstone and 140 snowmobiles, with no guiding requirement, in Grand Teton National Park and on the parkway connecting the parks. Nearly all snowmobiles will have to meet standards as cleaner, quieter machines. The plan would be in place through the winter of 2006-07.