Winter Plan Presented Again

The public has several opportunities this week to learn about a proposed new plan for winter use in Yellowstone National Park. Park Spokesman Al Nash explains that a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, which was released in late June, is open for public review and comment through August 20th.  Nash says participants will be briefed on the range of alternatives including the preferred alternative.  This he says will enable the public to submit really good comments and suggestions to help the park continue to move the process forward.  The favored alternative for the revised plan would deal with sound and air quality impacts of groups of winter travelers. Nash adds the preferred alternative proposes sound and emission standards for first time for snowcoaches as well as snowmobiles. Four public meetings will be held in communities surrounding the park, including one tonight at the Virginian Lodge beginning at 6:30 pm. Subsequent meetings will be held Tuesday in West Yellowstone, Montana, Wednesday in Bozeman, Montana and Thursday in Cody, Wyoming.  In addition to a presentation about the options under consideration, public comment will be accepted on the new supplemental EIS.