New Winter Plan Due Out This Week

The next proposal for a new permanent winter use plan for Yellowstone National Park is expected to be unveiled on Friday.  The plan discussed in public meetings last year garnered more than 58,000 responses during the 60-day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a long-term proposal for winter management.  Park Spokesman Al Nash explains that in order to review all of those responses, the Park again imposed the visitor quotas in place the past several years for the current winter season.  Nash says it was always the Park’s intent even if the long-term plan been adopted, to manage the coming winter season under the same limits and structure as they had under the temporary rules during the previous three winters.  As yet, there are no indications what changes will be proposed in the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement regarding Winter Use in Yellowstone nor what provisions the preferred alternative contains.  If approved, the plan will take effect for the 2013-2014 season and continue in the years thereafter.