Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced today that the park will again solicit public comments on the issues and alternatives to be considered in the planning process for the construction of a proposed new Visitor Education Center at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park. An initial public scoping done during the summer of 2000 resulted in concerns expressed about the architectural design of the building and potential impacts to hydrothermal resources and the area's sewage systems. Much progress has occurred since that time, both in the project's development and in addressing the initial concerns raised. This second public scoping provides updates and again solicits public comment on the proposed project.

The park proposes to build a new 43,000 square foot visitor education center at Old Faithful on the same site as the current visitor center complex, which would be removed. More than 3 million visitors come to Yellowstone each year, and most visit the Old Faithful area. The present 14,000 square-foot visitor center complex cannot accommodate the nearly 25,000 daily summer visitors nor is there space for interpretive exhibits. Visitors leave the Old Faithful area without a basic understanding of or appreciation for the complexity and interconnected nature of the geysers they see and the underlying volcanic activity that defines Yellowstone National Park.

The current Old Faithful Visitor Center complex (two satellite theaters, restroom building, and surrounding plaza) has been determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as part of the Mission 66/ Parkscape era. The park has been working with the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) as well as the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) since 1999 on how best to document the demolition of the current facility. The park will continue to work with SHPO and ACHP during the design and construction of the new facility to ensure that any new construction will be compatible with the architectural character of the Old Faithful Historic District.

Any construction in the vicinity of Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin must be done in a way that does not affect the underlying geothermal resources. A monitoring system installed in 2002 will detect any hydrothermal fluid movements to ensure the new facility will not impact any shallow underground hydrothermal fluid flow paths; data collected so far are being analyzed, and monitoring continues. Additionally, soils testing done in fall 2000 showed favorable results for construction. A drainage swale next to the current visitor center was filled in, possibly during the current facility's construction, and removal of these deposits during the construction phase would allow for the design of a lower level in the new facility without having to excavate a basement.

A new wastewater treatment facility was completed in fall 2002 for the Old Faithful area that fully meets the water quality standards for Wyoming ground waters.

To assist the National Park Service with the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center project, you are invited to comment on the known issues or identify additional concerns that you may have. Please write to the Planning Office, Old Faithful Visitor Education Center Project, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190, by July 25, 2003.