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Yellowstone National Park News Release

Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Released
For Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks

Feb 20, 2003 ~ PR 03-14

Providing for a high quality experience, protecting visitor/employee safety, preserving pristine air quality and natural soundscapes, mitigating impacts to wildlife, and minimizing adverse economic impacts to gateway communities remain the goals for winter use in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, as outlined in the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for Winter Use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. The FSEIS will be available to the public on February 20, 2003; there will not be a public comment period. National Park Service and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations call for a 30-day waiting period; public comment is not customary on a final environmental impact statement. A Record of Decision will be signed about March 24, 2003.

Five alternatives for winter visitor use in the three park units are evaluated in the FSEIS. Three of the alternatives, including the preferred alternative, are limited specifically to actions that allow snowmobile recreation to continue in the parks. The other alternatives include a no action alternative that would implement the November 2000 Record of Decision to ban snowmobiles from the parks beginning the 2003-2004 winter use season, and a second that would delay implementation of the November 2000 Record of Decision until the 2004-2005 winter use season.

The preferred alternative strikes a balance between phasing out all snowmobile use-as required under the November 2000 Record of Decision-and allowing for the unlimited snowmobile use of the past. Critical elements of the preferred alternative include: reduced numbers of snowmobiles through daily limits; implementing best available technology requirements for snowmobiles; implementation of an adaptive management program; guided access for both snowmobiles and snowcoaches; a reasonable phase-in period; a new generation of snowcoaches; and funding to effectively manage the winter use program. Implementation of all the critical elements will address the adverse impacts identified in the November 2000 Record of Decision.

The Department of the Interior agreed to do the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) under the terms of a Settlement Agreement to a lawsuit brought by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, the State of Wyoming, and others, asking that the November 2000 Record of Decision be set aside.

In the Settlement Agreement, the preparation of the SEIS was deemed necessary to further the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by soliciting more public comment on the earlier decision and alternatives that would maintain protection of park resources. Additional snowmobile technology was considered, as well as other new or updated substantive information not available at the time of the earlier decision.

Hard copies and CDs of the document are available by writing: FSEIS, Planning Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. The document can also be found by accessing www.nps.gov/grte/winteruse/winteruse.htm. The FSEIS is loaded in two volumes. Volume 1 is the main document and the appendices. Volume 2 is the public comments and their responses. Both volumes have clearly marked chapters, appendices and related sections to download separately. This will make it easier and more manageable for users, especially for those with slower dial-up connections.

-NPS-

Information provided by the NPS

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