Appeal Of Yellowstone Snowmobile Rule Rejected
DENVER (AP) — A federal appeals court says Wyoming can't sue the federal government over a 2009 rule that slashed how many snowmobiles were allowed in Yellowstone National Park.
Wyoming and Park County argued the rule arbitrarily restricted snowmobile access, despite evidence that allowing more snowmobiles wouldn't hurt the park. They said the limits would hurt tourism and tax revenue.
The 2009 rule expired last year, but park officials extended it through this winter.
A panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the state and county failed to show concrete economic losses from the rule, which would have allowed them to sue. They also said a challenge on procedural grounds is moot because park officials conducted a new analysis before extending the 2009 limits through this winter.