The National Park Service (NPS) has just announced the release of the Draft Winter Use Plan and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Plan/DSEIS) for Yellowstone National Park for public review and comment. The Winter Use Plan DSEIS analyzes a wide range of alternatives. BRC and partners will be reviewing the plan and DSEIS and will have suggested comments soon.
In the Park Service Media Release, the preferred alternative—and the other three alternatives—are discussed. Important to note is the fact that in each of the three action alternatives there is a call for a two-year transition period with the park operating winter use under the same rules and use levels as we have since 2008.
The actual details on the Draft SEIS, an electronic copy and a form for submitting public comments on the document electronically via the Internet are available at the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website. Once there, click on the “2012 Supplemental Winter Use Plan EIS” link. You can request a copy of the Draft SEIS in compact disc or printed paper form, and submit written, hard copy comments by mail to: National Park Service, Management Assistant’s Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Comments may be submitted in writing through the PEPC website, in person or by mail. Comments will not be accepted over the phone, by fax or email. No bulk comments will be accepted.
The document is now open for public review and comment. The comment period will close 45 days after the EPA publishes a “Notice of Availability” of the Draft SEIS in the Federal Register. That date will be announced soon. A separate, proposed draft federal rule that would be used to implement the park’s preferred alternative, if chosen, will be released for its own separate public review and comment period after the final SEIS is release this fall.
The park will hold four public open house meetings in communities near the park.
PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE
Monday, July 16, 2012 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. MDT
The Virginian Lodge & Convention Center
750 W. Broadway
Jackson, WY 83001
Tuesday, July 17, 2012 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. MDT
Holiday Inn
315 Yellowstone Avenue
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. MDT
Wingate by Wyndham
2305 Catron Street
Bozeman, MT 59715
Thursday July 19, 2012 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. EDT
Holiday Inn at the Buffalo Bill Village Resort
1701 Sheridan Ave.
Cody, WY 82414
The National Park Service intends to have a final EIS, a Record of Decision and a final rule guiding winter use in place before the start of the 2012-2013 winter season.
