| Flathead
Snowmobile Ban |
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INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA |
CONTACTS: KARLE OR MATTHEWS |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
(307) 344-2015 or 344-2010 |
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February 19, 2002 |
02-10 |
Internet Version of Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for Winter Use in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park Assistant Superintendent Frank Walker
and Grand Teton National Park Assistant Superintendent Steve Iobst
announced that the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(DSEIS) for Winter Use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway is expected to be
available on the internet Tuesday, February 19, 2002.
The two park staffs have been working together to make the DSEIS
available to the public as quickly as possible for their review.
Hard copies of the DSEIS will be available by March 29, 2002. An
official 60-day comment period will begin
March 29 and will close on May 29, 2002. However,
comments will be accepted from the time the document is posted on
the internet.
The SEIS includes four alternatives but does not designate a
preferred alternative. Briefly, the four alternatives are:
Alternative 1a - No Action alternative that allows for
implementation of the current rule allowing access to the parks via
snowcoaches only in the future. A phase-out of snowmobiles would
begin the winter of 2002-3 with a full ban on snowmobiles effective
the winter of 2003-4.
Alternative 1b - Also a No Action alternative, but
implementation of the current rule would be delayed until the winter
of 2003-4 with a full ban on snowmobiles effective the winter of
2004-5. Both of the No Action alternatives provide for access by a
NPS-managed, mass transit snowcoach system.
Alternative 2 - Provides for non-guided snowmobile access. It
phases in proposed EPA 2010 emission standards by 2005 for cleaner
snowmobiles and limits decibel levels to 75 (current limits are at
78 decibels). It also provides for a daily cap on numbers of
snowmobiles and calls for increased National Park Service management
of winter use.
Alternative 3 - Provides for access by guided snowmobile tours
with snowmobiles that must be the best available technology for
sound and emissions. Snowmobile numbers would be limited, and
visitors would be encouraged to shift to snowcoach services.
The Department of the Interior agreed to do the 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 22, 2000, Record of
Decision (ROD) be set aside. That ROD would eliminate both
snowmobile and snowplane use from the parks by the winter of
2003-2004, and provide access via an NPS-managed, mass-transit
snowcoach system.
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 to it 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.
The completion of the SEIS is to follow a schedule set out in the
settlement agreement. The final SEIS is scheduled to be available to
the public on October 15, 2002, with a Record of Decision scheduled
for completion by November 15, 2002.
The document can be found by accessing www.nps.gov/grte
where a quick link to the document can be found. The direct access
address is www.nps.gov/grte/winteruse/intro.htm
Comments will be accepted for the record beginning with the date of
internet posting and must include a name and return mailing address
(other than an email address). Comments may be submitted via email
to: grte_winter_use_seis@nps.gov
or by mail to: Winter Use SEIS, P.O. Box 352, Moose, Wyoming 83012.
A link for the Final EIS and Record of Decision published in
2000 are also available at the same addresses for the convenience of
interested parties. The Winter Use SEIS is loaded in two volumes.
Volume 1 is the main document broken down by chapters. Volume 2 is
the appendices broken down A through F. Both volumes have clearly
marked chapters, appendices and related sections to download
separately. This will make it easier and more manageable for the
users to download especially those with slower dial-up connections.
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This page was last updated on 12/15/06
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