NPS releases Park Winter Use Plan
For Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
November 22, 2006
The National Park Service (NPS) released a preliminary version of the Draft Winter Use Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks on Monday, November 20th.
The document was released for technical review by the ten Cooperating Agencies involved in the planning effort which are participating in the planning process under Memorandums of Understanding with the National Park Service. The ten cooperating agencies are the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho; counties of Park and Gallatin in Montana, Park and Teton in Wyoming, and Fremont in Idaho; the Environmental Protection Agency; and the U.S. Forest Service.
Alternatives contained in the Cooperating Agency review document are a refinement of the preliminary draft alternatives which were made available for public review and comment in March 2006. The technical review draft identifies an agency preferred alternative, which would generally continue the current managed snowmobile and snowcoach program. Technical comments received from the Cooperating Agencies will be reviewed and incorporated as appropriate in the Draft EIS which is expected to be released for public review and comment in March 2007. The NPS intends to complete the EIS process prior to the start of the 2007-2008 winter season.
More information on the progress of the current winter use planning process, and the Cooperating Agency Review Draft EIS, are posted on the NPS website at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/winteruse.htm. The NPS will also be hosting a public information fair on Friday, December 8, 2006, from 5 pm to 9 pm at the Holiday Inn in Cody, Wyoming.
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