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American Morning
Parks at Risk
Aired January 17, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we're going to turn our attention to something else that is of interest to a lot of you out there. A list of the nation's most endangered parks is out, issued by a conservation group. Yellowstone in Montana is among the top 10.
David Mattingly is out there in west Yellowstone, almost in the middle of the night, with a closer look at one of the reasons why environmentalists are worried about the park.
Actually, it's not so early. It's only 6:30 in the morning there.
Good morning.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
People who come to the park this time of year say that winter is the absolute best time to see Yellowstone, because the crowds are smaller, the wildlife seems a little more accessible, and the landscape is absolutely spectacular, covered in snow.
But this time of year is also, for obvious reasons, the most difficult time to get into the park. Many roads are closed, except for vehicles like snowmobiles. And this being a holiday weekend we will see hundreds of them zipping through here at the gates later today.
People tell us, critics of these vehicles say that they may be small, but they are doing some very big damage to the environment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY (voice-over): On peak weekends, there are thousands of them, buzzing across the landscape, spewing out bluish clouds of smoke. At times, so much pollution, that the air in Yellowstone National Park almost violates federal standards, worse than most cities.
JON CATTON, GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION: We think the law used to be upheld and Yellowstone needs to be protected, and you need to phase out snow mobiles.
MATTINGLY: The Clinton administration solution was to ban snow mobiles from Yellowstone altogether, but the ban never happened. It was immediately met with a lawsuit from manufacturers. So the Bush administration came up with a new plan, one that limits, but allows, snowmobiles and encourages cleaner-burning machines. JOHN SACKLIN, YELLOWSTONE NATL. PARK: We see that people will be able to enjoy the park and the park resources will be protected.
MATTINGLY: The compromise pleases Jerry Johnson, mayor of West Yellowstone, a town that depends on winter tourism dollars from snow- mobilers. At his rental ship, he explains how newer, cleaner models that burn ethanol instead of gas and oil, will make a big difference.
JERRY JOHNSON, WEST YELLOWSTONE MYR.: The park services asked for A 75 percent reduction in emissions. I'm not a scientist, but at least 75 percent.
MATTINGLY: But some environmentalists argue the new snow mobiles aren't clean or quiet enough. This video from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition shows bison scattering off a park road, agitated by snow mobiles.
CATTON: Even with the newer snow mobiles, there is going to be a haze of exhaust at Old Faithful, continuing respiratory problems for people with sensitive respiratory systems, and harm to Yellowstone's wildlife.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY: Critics say pound for pound, snow mobiles do pollute more than automobiles, the millions of automobiles coming through here seemingly greater than the 85,000 snow mobiles that come into Yellowstone in the winter -- Paula.
ZAHN: David Mattingly, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 17, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we're going to turn our attention to something else that is of interest to a lot of you out there. A list of the nation's most endangered parks is out, issued by a conservation group. Yellowstone in Montana is among the top 10.
David Mattingly is out there in west Yellowstone, almost in the middle of the night, with a closer look at one of the reasons why environmentalists are worried about the park.
Actually, it's not so early. It's only 6:30 in the morning there.
Good morning.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
People who come to the park this time of year say that winter is the absolute best time to see Yellowstone, because the crowds are smaller, the wildlife seems a little more accessible, and the landscape is absolutely spectacular, covered in snow.
But this time of year is also, for obvious reasons, the most difficult time to get into the park. Many roads are closed, except for vehicles like snowmobiles. And this being a holiday weekend we will see hundreds of them zipping through here at the gates later today.
People tell us, critics of these vehicles say that they may be small, but they are doing some very big damage to the environment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY (voice-over): On peak weekends, there are thousands of them, buzzing across the landscape, spewing out bluish clouds of smoke. At times, so much pollution, that the air in Yellowstone National Park almost violates federal standards, worse than most cities.
JON CATTON, GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION: We think the law used to be upheld and Yellowstone needs to be protected, and you need to phase out snow mobiles.
MATTINGLY: The Clinton administration solution was to ban snow mobiles from Yellowstone altogether, but the ban never happened. It was immediately met with a lawsuit from manufacturers. So the Bush administration came up with a new plan, one that limits, but allows, snowmobiles and encourages cleaner-burning machines. JOHN SACKLIN, YELLOWSTONE NATL. PARK: We see that people will be able to enjoy the park and the park resources will be protected.
MATTINGLY: The compromise pleases Jerry Johnson, mayor of West Yellowstone, a town that depends on winter tourism dollars from snow- mobilers. At his rental ship, he explains how newer, cleaner models that burn ethanol instead of gas and oil, will make a big difference.
JERRY JOHNSON, WEST YELLOWSTONE MYR.: The park services asked for A 75 percent reduction in emissions. I'm not a scientist, but at least 75 percent.
MATTINGLY: But some environmentalists argue the new snow mobiles aren't clean or quiet enough. This video from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition shows bison scattering off a park road, agitated by snow mobiles.
CATTON: Even with the newer snow mobiles, there is going to be a haze of exhaust at Old Faithful, continuing respiratory problems for people with sensitive respiratory systems, and harm to Yellowstone's wildlife.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY: Critics say pound for pound, snow mobiles do pollute more than automobiles, the millions of automobiles coming through here seemingly greater than the 85,000 snow mobiles that come into Yellowstone in the winter -- Paula.
ZAHN: David Mattingly, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
