Take home Test #1

FOR 372 and FOR 796-2

 

Due date: 3/25/03 by 1:00 PM

 

 

Assignment: �

The three press releases and one publication listed below (look up on the Internet using the site addresses given) focus on snowmobiling in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. In 2000, the National Park Service passed a federal rule to phase out snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton NPs. The rule met with approval from environmental groups, but not from the State of Wyoming, the snowmobile industry, business owners, or snowmobilers.� In fact, the State of Wyoming and other groups filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior because of the ban. In response to this lawsuit, a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) was required by the NPS. The SEIS was completed in 2003 and recommends overturning the ban and implementing specific visitor management strategies instead. The final Record of Decision (ROD) outlining the new regulations about snowmobiling in Yellowstone will be released on March 24, 2003.

 

Some press releases and publications that you should review are:

 

"Winter use decision for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is announced," National Park Service Press Release, 11/22/2000. (NOTE: The federal rule based on the decision explained in this article was passed January 23, 2001.)

Internet address: Http://data2.itc.nps.gov/release/Detail.cfm?ID=96

 

Stevens, Sean. "Snowmobiling through beautiful Yellowstone National Park."

Internet address: Http://www.jacksonholenet.com/stories/yelsnob.htm

 

"Wyoming files a motion in support of snowmobile use." State of Wyoming, Office of the Governor, 3/20/2001.

Internet address: Http://www.state.wy.us/governor/press_releases/2001/march_2001/motion.html

 

�Winter Use Plan, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Fact Sheet,� National Park Service, 2/20/2003. (You will find this publication in the list at the bottom of this web page.)

Internet address: Http://www.nps.gov/yell/technical/planning/winteruse/plan/index.htm

 

National Park Service Organic Act of 1916

Internet address: Http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/16/1.html

 

 

Find and read other articles if needed. Make sure you cite all articles, websites, and publications in your exam and use a bibliography.

 

 

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING FOUR QUESTIONS:

 

1. List two environmental, two social, and two economic impacts of snowmobile use within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (i.e., six impacts total). Explain why each impact is either mainly positive, mainly negative, or both positive and negative.

 

NOTE: It may be easier to create a table to answer this question. In Microsoft Word, use the "Insert Table" command under "Table" on the menu bar to create a table. Use the following table headings:

 

Type of impact (i.e., social, environmental, economic)

Impact

Why positive?

Why negative?

 

 

2. According to National Park Service policy, do you think this ban should be put into effect? Why or why not? Refer to the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 when answering this question.

 

3. Do you think snowmobiling should be banned at Yellowstone and Grand Teton? Why or why not? Provide two reasons for or against the ban. Weigh the positive and negative aspects of the impacts that you identified in question 1, as well as your conclusions regarding National Park Service policy from question 2, when answering this question.

 

4. Read the management recommendations identified in the �Preferred alternative,� �Daily limits,� �Best Available Technology (BAT),� and �Adaptive Management� sections of the �Winter Use Plan Supplemental EIS Fact Sheet.� Choose one of the following three management strategies: Daily Limits, Best Available Technology (BAT), or Adaptive Management. Identify one major snowmobiling problem that the chosen strategy addresses? Do you think implementation of the management strategy chosen will minimize or eliminate this problem? Why or why not? Explain in detail.

 

Format: �������� 3 pages typed and double-spaced (excluding the bibliography). 10 or 12 point font.

 

����������������������� Additional pages will not be read so do not exceed 3 pages! (It is okay if your bibliography goes onto a fourth page).

 

 

Grading: �������� Spelling and grammar�������� 5 points

����������������������� Content�������� 95��������

����������������������� TOTAL�������� 100

 

 

This exam is to be done individually by each student,

without assistance or input from other individuals.