Winter Travel Cleared For Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park Friday released a Final Environmental Impact Statement ensuring the park will be open for motorized over snow travel as scheduled December 15th. Spokesman Al Nash says a Record of Decision will also be published, utilizing the transition year statistics from the preferred alternative for the proposed permanent winter plan for a one-year rule. These actions will allow the park to open for winter use on December 15th, and provide for managed motorized oversnow travel over groomed, snow-packed park roads in the same manner as allowed the past two winters under a temporary plan. Under the 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. The temporary plan became necessary after more than 59-thousand public comments were received on the Winter Use Draft Environmental Impact Statement raising additional questions about the long-term effects and options regarding winter use in Yellowstone. As such, more time is needed for study prior to adopting a permanent winter plan.
