Affiliated persons means persons other than guides or park visitors. Affiliated persons include NPS employees, contractors, concessioner employees, their families and guests, or other persons designated by the Superintendent.
Commercial guide means a person who operates as a snowmobile or snowcoach guide for a monetary fee or other compensation and is authorized to operate in the park under a concession contract or a commercial use authorization.
Commercial tour operator means a person authorized to operate oversnow vehicle tours in the park under a concession contract or a commercial use authorization.
Enhanced emission standards means for snowmobiles, a maximum of 65 dB(A) as measured at cruising speed (approximately 35 mph) in accordance with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1161 test procedures and certified under 40 CFR part 1051 to a Family Emission Limit no greater than 60 g/kW-hr for carbon monoxide; and for snowcoaches, a maximum of 71 dB(A) when measured by operating the snowcoach at cruising speed for the test cycle in accordance with the SAE J1161 test procedures.
Guide means a commercial guide or a non-commercial guide.
Non-commercial guide means a person who has successfully completed training and certification requirements established by the Superintendent that demonstrate the requisite knowledge and skills to operate a snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park. In order to be certified and receive a special use permit, a non-commercial guide must be at least 18 years of age by the day of the trip and possess a valid state-issued motor vehicle driver's license.
Non-commercially guided group means a group of no more than five snowmobiles, including a non-commercial guide, permitted to enter the park under the Non-commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program.
Non-commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program means a program that permits authorized parties to enter Yellowstone National Park without a commercial guide.
Oversnow route means that portion of the unplowed roadway located between the road shoulders and designated by snow poles or other poles, ropes, fencing, or signs erected to regulate oversnow activity. Oversnow routes include pullouts or parking areas that are groomed or marked similarly to roadways and are adjacent to designated oversnow routes. An oversnow route may also be distinguished by the interior boundaries of the berm created by the packing and grooming of the unplowed roadway.
Oversnow vehicle means a snowmobile, snowcoach, or other motorized vehicle that is intended for travel primarily on snow and has been authorized by the Superintendent to operate in the park. All-terrain vehicles and utility-type vehicles are not oversnow vehicles, even if they have been modified for use on snow with track or ski systems
Snowcoach means a self-propelled mass transit vehicle intended for travel on snow, having a curb weight of over 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms), having a capacity of at least eight passengers and no more than 32 passengers, plus a driver.
Snowcoach transportation event means one snowcoach that does not meet enhanced emission standards traveling in Yellowstone National Park on any given day, or two snowcoaches that both meet enhanced emission standards traveling together in Yellowstone National Park on any given day.
Snowmobile means a self-propelled vehicle intended for travel solely on snow, with a maximum curb weight of 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms), driven by a track or tracks in contact with the snow, and which may be steered by a ski or skis in contact with the snow.
Snowmobile transportation event means a group of 10 or fewer commercially guided snowmobiles traveling together in Yellowstone National Park on any given day or a non-commercially guided group, which is defined separately. Snowmobiles entering Cave Falls Road are not considered snowmobile transportation events.
Snowplane means a self-propelled vehicle intended for oversnow travel and driven by an air-displacing propeller.
Transportation event means a snowmobile transportation event or a snowcoach transportation event.
A snowcoach that is a . . . | must meet the following standard . . . |
(A) Diesel-fueled snowcoach with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) less than 8,500 pounds | The functional equivalent of 2010 (or newer) EPA Tier 2 model year engine and emission control technology requirements. |
(B) Diesel-fueled snowcoach with a GVWR greater than or equal to 8,500 pounds | The EPA model year 2010 "engine configuration certified" diesel air emission requirements. Alternately, a snowcoach in this category may be certified under the functional equivalent of 2010 (or newer) EPA Tier 2 model year engine and emission control technology requirements if the snowcoach: (1) Has a GVWR between 8,500 and 10,000 pounds; and (2) Would achieve better emission results with a configuration that meets the Tier 2 requirements. |
(C) Gasoline-fueled snowcoach greater than or equal to 10,000 GVWR | The functional equivalent of 2008 (or newer) EPA Tier 2 model year engine and emission control technology requirements. |
(D) Gasoline-fueled snowcoach less than 10,000 GVWR | The functional equivalent of 2007 (or newer) EPA Tier 2 model year engine and emission control technology requirements. |
Daily Transportation Event Entry Limits by Park Entrance/Location
Park entrance/location | Commercially guided snowmobile transportation events | Non-commercially guided snowmobile transportation events | Snowcoach transportation events if all 50 snowmobile transportation events are used | Snowcoach transportation events if zero commercially guided snowmobile transportation events are used* |
West Entrance | 23 | 1 | 26 | 49 |
South Entrance | 17 | 1 | 8 | 25 |
East Entrance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
North Entrance | 2 | 1 | 13 | 15 |
Old Faithful | 2 | 0 | 12 | 14 |
Total | 46 | 4 | 60 | 106 |
* The remaining 4 transportation events are reserved for non-commercially guided snowmobiles.
Number of Snowmobiles and Snowcoaches Allowed in the Park on Any Day by Park Entrance/Location for the 2013-2014 Winter Season
Park entrance/location | Commercially guided snowmobiles | Commercially guided snowcoaches |
West Entrance | 160 | 34 |
South Entrance | 114 | 13 |
East Entrance | 20 | 2 |
North Entrance * | 12 | 13 |
Old Faithful * | 12 | 16 |
* Commercially guided snowmobile tours originating at the North Entrance and Old Faithful are currently provided solely by one concessioner. Because this concessioner is the sole provider at both of these areas, this regulation allows reallocation of snowmobiles between the North Entrance and Old Faithful as necessary, so long as the total daily number of snowmobiles originating from the two locations does not exceed 24. For example, the concessioner could operate 6 snowmobiles at Old Faithful and 18 at the North Entrance if visitor demand warranted it. This will allow the concessioner to respond to changing visitor demand for commercially guided snowmobile tours, thus enhancing the availability of visitor services in Yellowstone.
36 C.F.R. §7.13
For FEDERAL REGISTER citations affecting § 7.13 , see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov .