Update: On November 3rd the Park Service announced that the Winter Use Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) had been completed and that a Record of Decision (ROD) will be issued selecting only the transition year from the preferred alternative. Yes, the Yellowstone Park will open December 15, 2011,-for the 2011-2012 Winter Season-for snowmobile and snowcoach access.
What does the "Implementation of the Transition Year" for 2011-2012 mean?
Under the Transition or One-Year-Rule, up to 318 commercially guided, best available technology (BAT) snowmobiles and up to 78 commercially guided snowcoaches a day will be allowed this winter into Yellowstone National Park.
What will happen next in the long term Winter Use process?
The Park Service has now determined that many issues need to be further analyzed before a new long range Winter Use Plan can be put in place for the 2012-2013 season and beyond. This additional analysis will be conducted using what is known as a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
View the Park Service Media Release, with more information on the "Yellowstone Completes Winter Use Environmental Impact Statement" and what are some of the major issues the Park Service wants to analyze. One of the most important areas to be revisited is "Opportunities for non-commercially guided access," which is very important to snowmobilers. Yes, they're looking at NOT requiring snowmobilers to hire a commercial guide to access the park! The other areas to be revised are variable preset use limits, air quality and sound modeling assumptions, proposed BAT for snowcoaches, adaptive management framework, cost of avalanche mitigation on Sylvan Pass, and 10:30 entry requirement.
As you can see, the areas to be revisited that I listed above are the main issues our collective comments zeroed in on during the comment period on the DEIS! Yes, the Park Service listened, and now we have another chance to comment during the SEIS process. Please review the Park Service Media Release and the link to the FEIS and be prepared to join in the new SEIS process that will be starting after the issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD) and one-year rule in December 2011. Enjoy our victory and make your plans to come and enjoy Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks this winter on a snowmobile!
Note: As additional information on items covered in this summary are announced by the Park Service they will be posted at our dedicated website, http://www.saveyellowstonepark.com.
