Yellowstone National Park is preparing a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) in order to determine how to best satisfy long-term winter use in the park. Park Spokesman Dan Hottle says this is the public comment phase.
The park has worked on the plan for some time now and decided to keep rules the same as last year for this winter season in order to complete the public comment and research processes. Hottle takes us through a few of the plans the park is considering.
The “no action” alternative would ban all snowmobile and snowcoach use in the park, while the others include various restrictions for them. Park staff will host open houses in February in Cody, Jackson, West Yellowstone, Montana and Bozeman, Montana. All four will be held from 6 to 8 pm. The Supplemental EIS should be released this spring following the meetings. A deadline to have all parts in place for a long-term winter-use plan is mid-December. Additional details on the plans, and how to send comment can be found on the park's website.
