1.
SV Snowmobiles assemble ready for park tour
0.06

2.
SV Snowmobiles away
0.14

3.
SV TRACKING SHOT THROUGH park
0.19

4.
SV Walkers in park
0.22

5.
SV ZOOM OUT Hot springs
0.30

6.
Snowmobilers stop to take pictures of wildlife (2 shots)
0.42

7.
SV Snowmobilers continue tour (2 shots)
0.56

8.
SV ZOOM OUT Deer grazing and drinking (3 shots)
1.09

9.
SV Bison grazing
1.14

10.
SV ZOOM OUT Snow-mobilers stop to admire geyser
1.18


REPORTERS: "The sport of snowmobiling thorough Yellowstone National Park of Montana has grown rapidly in the past couple of years. Some 7,000 snowmobilers have already passed thorough the gates of the nation's most famous park this year, and that's an increase of 15 per cent over last year.



"Park Superintendent Jack Anderson is happy over these figures. However conservation groups and environmentalists do not share the park official's enthusiasm. They say that snowmobiles and the people who ride them are causing ecological damage and disturbing the wildlife, which is accessible by snowmobile. They also say the machines are causing pollution, especially noise pollution.



"To this claim, park officials are quick to point out a new law, which would require snowmobile manufacturers to reduce the noise of the product to that equal to a car by the year 1975.



"Even with these new laws governing snowmobiles, some conservation groups persist in the theory that snowmobiles must be banned from the park, and they are currently fighting for legislation which would accomplish just that goal.



"According to Jack Anderson, if the environmentalists win this battle, no-one will benefit. Anderson and other park officials can't see the problems conservationists claim exist. For this reason, park officials and rangers think they will try to keep snowmobiling a winter happening in the park."




Initials BB/2248 GR/AS/BB/2302


There follows a transcription of the commentary-on-film. An alternative commentary is provided overleaf.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Snowmobiles--a form of motorised bobsleigh--are being used increasingly in the famous Yellowstone National Park in Montana to view scenery and wildlife. The machines are used on trails that would otherwise be inaccessible, except to walkers and skiers.

But conservationists are worried that the snowmobiles cause damage to the environment, packing down snow to hard ice that inhibits plant growth and animal movement, and even causing soil erosion on well-used snowmobile tracks. Noise pollution is often considered the major problem. The air-cooled engines make as much noise as a motorbicycle, and ecologists claim that the machines unnecessarily disturb wildlife.

Legislation to restrict the use of snowmobiles had already been passed in Canada, from where a large number of snowmobiles are imported to the United States. Conservationists are attempting to introduce similar laws in the U.S.

But despite the protests, snowmobiling is still one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. Already this year, 7,000 snowmobiles have passed through Yellowstone Park--an increase of 15 per cent over last year.

SYNOPSIS: In the United States" Yellowstone National Park of Montana, snowmobiles, or motorised bobsleighs, are becoming an increasingly popular sport. Groups of snowmobiles tour the park almost daily, making light of conditions that wold bring normal transport to a standstill. Making use of lightweight, aircooled engines, the machines can travel over ground previously only accessible to walkers.

The famous hot springs of Yellowstone can be reached by snowmobilers through some of the deepest snow-drifts, and for wildlife lovers, use of the machine can be rewarding.....

But there are opponents of snowmobiles. Conservation groups look upon the machines, not as a sport, but a menace. They claim that snowmobiles pack down the soft snow, destroying young plants and restricting wildlife movement.

They also say that wildlife is unnecessarily disturbed by the machines, which produce as much noise as an unsilenced motorbicycle. Legislation to restrict the use of snowmobiles has already been passed in nearby Canada, and U.S. conservationists are pressing for similar laws.

Meanwhile, snowmobiling continues to be one of America's fastest-growing pastimes.