George P. Radanovich: “I want to address the issue about what the Holt-Rahall amendment is all about, because I do not believe it is about…”

“I want to address the issue about what the Holt-Rahall amendment is all about, because I do not believe it is about diminishing wildlife. As the chart shows here, since the National Park Service began grooming trails in the 1960s, the number of elk and bison have exploded, reaching the park's natural carrying capacity in the mid-1990s and remaining there ever since then. The park animals are breeding like rabbits. They are now leaving the park in search for food. There is no documented peer review science which indicates that snowmobiles are placing any species in Yellowstone at risk. The Holt amendment is not about wildlife, and it is not about noise. The new 4-stroke machines that will be required under the National Park Service's record of decision are extremely quiet. The snowcoaches which would replace them under the Holt amendment are orders of magnitude louder and would have a noise impact on 17,000 more acres than would be the case under the National Park Service's ROD. For those who have not had the opportunity to ride in a snowcoach, as the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cuban) testified, let me assure my colleagues that it is not a pleasant experience. It is a tank, it is loud, it is noisy, and it is uncomfortable. If you ask them, most of those who ride in a snowcoach will tell you that they will not do it again. The Holt amendment is not about lowering noise, and neither is it about lessening emissions.”