From the article :
www.newwest.net/topic/article/some_numbe..._parks_wint/C41/L41/
NATIONAL PARK NEWS
Some Numbers to Keep in Mind When Reviewing Yellowstone National Park’s Winter-Use Plan
The comment period on the much-debated, complicated plan is set to end next month. Before that happens, consider a few eye-opening statistics.
By Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler, Guest Writer, 6-20-11
...$10 Million+
Estimated amount the National Park Service has spent on winter-use studies in Yellowstone since 2000.
...And One
According to a panel of experts convened in 2007 to discuss avalanche control work in Yellowstone, there is no other place in the National Park System “where NPS rangers are doing this kind of avalanche hazard mitigation or where this type of work is performed for a transportation corridor that is primarily used by over-snow vehicles.”
$325,000
Annual amount budgeted for avalanche control on Sylvan Pass.
Less Than 3 Visitors Per Day
Number of visitors entering the East Entrance via snowmobile and crossing Sylvan Pass last winter. There were no snowcoaches traversing the pass last winter, as no one bid on the contract.
...71.8-75.1
These numbers reflect the sound levels of “best available technology” snowmobiles authorized for use in the park. The general trend since 2005 has not been in the direction of further reductions in the noise produced by snowmobiles entering Yellowstone, which NPS stated in the Federal Register that it expected based on assurances from the snowmobile manufacturers.
Instead, through the past six years the snowmobiles put forward by the industry for use in the park have generally become two to three decibels louder, with top noise levels above Yellowstone’s standard of 73 decibels.
In some cases, while there were initial reductions achieved in noise under the BAT requirements, numbers have begun to reverse. Some 2009 Bombardier models were measured at 70.1-72 decibels before inching backupwards to a range of 71.3 - 75.1 for 2011 models.
In its most recent soundscapes monitoring report, NPS attributes improved listening conditions for visitors at Old Faithful, not to technology, but to reduced traffic, stating: “The lower percent time audible value of the past two winters is likely due to a decrease in the daily average of about 100 snowmobiles/day.” (end quote)
Considering the money spent etc., it would seem more logical to just plow some roads and let autos drive in. Those autos are required to meet emissions, safety, noise, etc. standards.
