From Jane Clark at [log in to unmask] Please call President Clinton............... Folks: We are close to losing the rider battle to uphold the Park Service's restrictions on snowmobiles in Yellowstone and other national parks. The Congress is expected to vote today (Dec.15) on the final appropriations package of FY 2001 AND IT INCLUDES A RIDER TO BLOCK THE PARK SERVICE FROM TAKING ANY FINAL ACTION TO REGULATE SNOWMOBILES UNTIL JULY 31, 2001. This means that the plan we worked so hard to get in place in Yellowstone will be left in limbo. In this case, delay is likely to be death. We can still win this, but only if President Clinton refuses to accept the anti-environment riders in this bill. He has indicated he may veto the bill because of the riders, particularly one that threatens endangered steller sea lions in Alaska. TODAY IS THE DAY to call the White House and tell the President to veto H.R. 4577, the Labor-HHS appropriations bill. Calls are best: 202-456-1111 Email: [log in to unmask] Background: At the culmination of a ten-year study and review process including extensive public comment, the National Park Service at Yellowstone and other national parks concluded that snowmobiles cause irreparable harm to air, water, and soil quality, natural quiet, wildlife and natural habitat, public health and safety, and visitors' ability to enjoy the national park experience. At Yellowstone, the NPS has instituted a plan to phase out the destructive machines over three years, eventually replacing them completely with cleaner, quieter snowcoaches. Unfortunately, the billion-dollar snowmobile industry has managed to bend the ear of a few western legislators, thus attaching a rider to a bill which would reverse the laborious and thorough decision at Yellowstone as well as several other parks. Thank you all very much for your support. We apologize for the unusually high number of alerts in the last several weeks, but as the change of Administrations is likely to hold a very new future for the management of our public lands, it is critical that we ensure that the work we've done thus far isn't reversed by a sneaky legislative maneuver at the last minute. If you have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to call or email [log in to unmask], 415.788.3666 ext. 157. ******************************* Bluewater Network 300 Broadway, Suite 28 San Francisco, CA 94133 Phone: 415-788-3666 x 150 Fax: 415-788-7324 Email: [log in to unmask] www.bluewaternetwork.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]