To conserve the scenery and the historic objects and the wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. Thank you for the opportunity to testify before this committee regarding the National Park Service's recent decision to protect most of the National Park System from motorized thrill-craft such as snowmobiles. My name is Sean Smith and I am the public lands director for Bluewater Network, a national environmental organization protecting public waters, lands, and ecosystems. Bluewater Network and the more than one million people we represent support the National Park Service's recent decision to phase-out recreational snowmobiling.
Snowmobiles damage the parks.
Snowmobiles are multiple impact machines, which inflict damage to air and water quality, visitor enjoyment, public safety, wildlife, and natural quiet. Numerous studies and research have confirmed this damage. Recent tests conducted by the SouthWest Research Institute confirm that the two-stroke engines of snowmobiles emit hundreds of times more pollution than a modern automobile. Ground level ozone is formed when HC and oxides of Nitrogen react in the presence of sunlight. Beside adverse human health impacts, ground level ozone is known to adversely affect the environment by reducing tree seedling growth, increasing plant's susceptibility to pests, and reducing visibility.