CONTACT CONGRESS TO STOP SNOWMACHINES: NPCA (the National Park and Conservation Association) will be bravely testifying before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee next Wednesday (5/24) to support the recent announcement made by the National Park Service to phase out snowmachine use in our national parks. The heat will be on, and it is very important that committee members hear from you before the hearing, so they know that the public is in favor of the snowmachine ban. TAKE ACTION! Please call or e-mail the following committee members, and give them this simple message: "I support the National Park Service's effort to protect park wildlife and visitors from the noise and pollution of snowmobiles. I want national parks to be clean and quiet." The members to contact are: Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) [log in to unmask] Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) www.senate.gov/~bayh/ Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) [log in to unmask] Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) [log in to unmask] Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA) www.senate.gov/~gorton/ Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA) www.senate.gov/~gorton/ Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) [log in to unmask] Please let us know [log in to unmask] To call these senators, use 202/224-3121 and ask to be transferred. For additional arguments you'll find a brief list following of "Snowmachine Myth Busters" which you can use to strengthen your position. Thanks! SNOWMACHINE MYTH-BUSTERS: MYTH: Snowmobile trails do not impact wildlife in the parks. FACT: Compaction of snow caused by the passage of snowmobiles can crush small animals, trap them in their tunnels, or inhibit their movements. Compacted trails can also alter the movement of animals by providing convenient travel-ways. This may alter natural survival rates due to increased movements outside of protected areas, improved access for predators, or altered access to food resources. MYTH: The NPS snowmobile decision closes a large percentage of the nation's snowmobile trail system. FACT: The NPS decision to prohibit snowmobiles from the National Park System affects a tiny percentage of the nation's groomed snowmobile trails. According to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA), there are more than 230,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the United States - more miles than in the country's interstate highway system6.the NPS closure impacts little more than one percent of all groomed trails. MYTH: Access to the parks will be denied if snowmobiles are abolishes. FACT: A mass transit system of snowcoaches will allow the same, and possibly more, visitors to see the parks in winter, while reducing overall vehicles by 90%, thereby eliminating much air pollution, noise and wildlife harassment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]