By Jack Welch
Special Project Consultant
BlueRibbon Coalition
The National Park Service (NPS) has just announced the release of the Draft Winter Use Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Plan/DEIS) for Yellowstone National Park for public review and comment. The Winter Use Plan DEIS analyzes a wide range of alternatives. BRC and our partners will be reviewing the plan and DEIS, and will have suggested comments soon.
Additional details on the Draft EIS, an electronic copy and a form for submitting public comments on the document electronically via the Internet are at the National Park Service's Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yell.
Once there, click on the "Winter Use Plan" link. You can request a copy of the Draft EIS in compact disc or printed paper form. 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 e-mail. No bulk comments will be accepted.
The document is now open for public review and comment. The comment period will close 60 days after the EPA publishes a "Notice of Availability" of the Draft EIS 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 60-day public review and comment period soon.
The park will hold six public meetings: four local meetings in communities near the park and two national meetings. The schedule for all meetings: Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for sign-in and meeting begins at 7 p.m. with a short presentation, followed by an open house and then an opportunity for public comment.
In addition, two public webinars (online "meetings") are scheduled for June 21 and June 22.
PUBLIC MEETING SCHEDULE
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
6:30-9:30 p.m. MDT
The Virginian
750 West Broadway
Jackson, WY 83001
Thursday, June 2, 2011
6:30-9:30 p.m. MDT
Holiday Inn
1701 Sheridan Ave.
Cody, WY 82414
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
6:30-9:30 p.m. MDT
Holiday Inn
315 Yellowstone Avenue
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
6:30-9:30 p.m. MDT
Holiday Inn
5 Baxter Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
6:30-9:30 p.m. MDT
Sheraton on Union
360 Union Boulevard
Lakewood, CO 80228
Thursday June 23, 2011
6:30-9:30 p.m. EDT
DAR Presidents General's Assembly Room
1776 D Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
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 2011-2012 winter season.
For up-to-date information on the Yellowstone Winter Use Issue, go to our website www.saveyellowstonepark.com.