The National Parks interests are decided by the National Park System Advisory Board. Now since president Trump’s administration began, 10 out of 12 members have resigned because they don’t want to work under Ryan Zinke and Trump.(Woods, June 19, 2018.). The board member who resigned said it was because they had been tired of waiting around and playing games with Ryan Zinke. They were supposed to meet twice a year and conveign on National Park matters. The new secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has been canceling and pushing all meetings causing the National Park System Advisory Board members to resign.(Eilperin, January 17, 2018.) The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks found Ryan Zinke’s treatment towards the trusted board members to be rude and disrespectful (CPANP, October 24, 2018).
It’s no secret that Trump’s administration focuses more on an economic growth agenda and doesn’t give any concern for a future conservationist agenda.(Williams, January 22, 2018.) some examples of Trump and Zinke’s agenda include “Supported oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, Allowed copper mining that likely would pollute the watershed that feeds the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the most popular wilderness area in the United States and Proposed an increase of more than 100 percent for entrance fees at some of America’s most popular national parks, which will freeze out some families with modest incomes”(Williams, January 22, 2018.).
Snowmobiling policies in yellowstone as of now are to use cleaner snowmobiles (4 stroke instead of 2), they made reduced speed limits in the park, they made a limit on the number of sleds allowed in the park, night time closures and single file guided tour into the park. Hoever the park has made these changes and made significant progress there is still no long-term plan for snowmobile operation in Yellowstone (NPS Winter use, July 11, 2017). Now snowmobiles are still the primary issue for concern when it comes to pollution in yellowstone. There is still a lot that needs to be done.
The new advances in snowmobile technology has been very helpful in trying to decrease pollution in yellowstone(Redeker, March 13, 2018). The switch from 2 stroke to 4 stroke engines for example has removed great volumes of dangerous hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and smoke. “A single two-stroke engine produces pollution equivalent to that of 30 to 50 four-stroke automobiles” ( Kushner, May 21, 2008). Now having snowmobiles in the park increases local economy in bordering towns. Also they cant ban the use snowmobiles in the park since the park is supposed to be open to all uses (Redeker, March 13, 2018). The only way snowmobiles can be banned is if the current administration were to make a law banning them in the future. However the next president could come in and change this yet again. So its a constant up and down battle on this subject.
The new updates don’t really change Layzer’s conclusions about Yellowstone but rather confirm them as true. We still have yet to find a permanent or lasting solution for snowmobiling and natural preservation. However he was right in saying new technological advances definitely made it a lot more easy to find a middle ground for both side to meet at a temporary conclusion.
