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Yellowstone Milestones
- December 1, 2004
- Comments
- 1872
- Congress sets aside more than 2 million acres in the northwest corner of Wyoming as Yellowstone National Park.
- 1963
- Recreational snowmobiling in Yellowstone begins.
- 1983-1993
- Fueled by the growing popularity of snowmobiles, the number of winter visitors doubles in 10 years, from 70,000 in 1983 to more than 140,000 in 1993.
- Winter of 1996-1997
- More than 1,000 bison leave the park, some along groomed trails, and are killed in order to protect local livestock.
- May 1997
- The legal battle over snowmobiles in Yellowstone begins. The Fund for Animals sues the National Park Service, alleging the activity violates laws governing park management.
- October 2000
- The Park Service's final environmental impact statement mandates a phase-out of snowmobiles and a complete ban by 2004 .
- Jan. 22, 2001
- The Park Service publishes the "snowcoach rule," which eliminates snowmobiles in favor of the larger, bus-like vehicles for winter touring. The rule does not address trail grooming.
- Jan. 31, 2001
- The Bush administration puts a stay on the snowcoach rule.
- June 2001
- Park Service settles a lawsuit by snowmobile manufacturers and other advocates. It agrees to consider data about new snowmobile technologies in a supplemental impact statement.
- March 25, 2003
- A decision allows 950 snow-mobiles to enter Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks daily. Snowmobiles must meet noise and emissions standards.
- Dec. 16, 2003
- Federal District Court Judge Emmett G. Sullivan of the District of Columbia overturns the 2003 rule. He reinstates the snowcoach rule, beginning a phase-out that year.
- Oct. 15, 2004
- Federal District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer rejects the snowcoach rule as a "prejudged political decision" by the Clinton administration.
- November 2004
- The Park Service issues a temporary winter use rule for limited snowmobile use while it conducts further study and monitoring.
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