Teton commissioner criticizes snowmobile petition

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - A Teton County commissioner has criticized the release of a petition seeking a ban of snowmobiles in national parks.

County Commissioner Bill Paddleford said the petition threatens to sabotage an ongoing study of winter use at Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, two of the 28 park units where snowmobiling is allowed. The heaviest use is in those parks and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota.

"I'm disappointed these groups have decided to throw this into the political and emotional arena at this time," said Paddleford last week. "This sort of misconceived, inflammatory statement can only do harm to the process, and conceivably to the national park system itself."

Last month, the executive director of the Bluewater Network, Russell Long, said snowmobiles are "killing our wildlife, ruining our air and water quality, poisoning the health of rangers exposed to snowmobiles' carbon monoxide exhaust, and destroying the solitude and peace cherished by other winter visitors."

The park service is required by law to respond to the petition.

None of the environmental groups signing the petition is based in Wyoming.

Franz Camenzind, executive director of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, said his group refused to sign onto what he called an "extreme" proposal.

A spokesman for the National Parks and Conservation Association said the group did not sign the petition, but supports a temporary ban on snowmobiles in the parks.

"As currently managed, snowmobiles are not appropriate for use in the national parks," said association President Tom Kiernan.

Rentals, sales and guided snowmobile tours account for a significant part of the economy of counties surrounding Wyoming's national parks.