The revolving door, which has the town of West Yellowstone, Mont., trapped and spinning on the issue of winter use, has slowed just enough to toss out a new proposal.
This one would restrict use of snowmobiles, but would allow the town, at least, to survive.
It would, if approved, allow 720 snowmobiles per day into the park, 400 through the West Entrance, which has been for years the main access point to the park.
All of the machines will need to be of the new "best available technology" or those with four-stroke engines. And, all those people going into the park will need to travel with a guide.
This plan would be in place for three years while emission studies are done on the new snowmobiles. Theretofore, that information has not been used in the decisionmaking, only emission studies involving older two-stroke engines.
The National Park Service is now asking for public comment on the proposed plan. It is asking people to respond — for or against — by midnight on Oct. 7.
The plan severely cuts down on visitors. There were days, before park closure became an issue, when upwards of 1,300 people entered Yellowstone National Park.
It is, however, a plan residents of the town feel is a good compromise. There will be fewer people, much less pollution and much quieter surroundings. And, with guides, there would be no harassment of the animals.
All these issues are sticking points with environmentalists, mainly Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Bluewater Network and Funds for Animals.
The people of West Yellowstone have, from the very beginning, been willing to compromise in order to reach a workable plan. Environmental groups, on the other hand, have been uncompromising. They want the park closed to snowmobiles, period, and cite all of the same old reasons — pollution, noise and harassment of the animals, mainly buffalo.
They are sharply critical of anyone who would dare challenge their intentions or the information they distribute, even though much of it is outdated and skewed.
The past few years have been extremely hard on the people of West Yellowstone. Planning anything long-term has been impossible. Several families have faced financial ruin and now many more face the possibility.
The town is based on year-round business — its schools, public service and employment.
There is a definite fear now that life could fall back to those times when summer was the only season.
Longtime residents talk of those days years back when there were no jobs in the winter. The grocery store opened two days a week for only a few hours. Fresh produce was impossible to get. Some men, in order to put food on the table for a family, had to resort to poaching. Winters were hard and depressing.
With snowmobiles came jobs and a better life. Now all they want is a chance to survive.
Last winter, under a compromise, the limit on snowmobiles entering the park was set at 278. It was, said one business owner, a number that was devastating to the community.
This winter, because of it, there will be 10 fewer lodges open. Over this past summer there were a couple of bankruptcy and one forced sell. There were also layoffs and lost jobs.
The plan, as proposed, is a good one, and it should be tried. It addresses all the concerns of environmentalists, and the daily quota is enough for the town to survive in the winter.
The people of West Yellowstone have conceded on almost every point in an attempt to reach a compromise and plan that will benefit everyone. All they're asking for is some give on the part of environmentalists.
It's time for those opposed to winter use to drop their very costly legal challenges, and at least give the plan, and the people, a chance.
E-mail: grass@desnews.com Comments can be submitted using an online form on the Web address — www.nps.gov/yell/winteruse-ea/. — or by mail to Winter Use Proposed Rule, Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.