[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 8618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4148]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Winter Use Plan, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the 
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway, Wyoming and Montana

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Winter Use Plan for the Yellowstone and Grand 
Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial 
Parkway.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for 
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, 
Jr., Memorial Parkway, Wyoming and Montana. The purpose for preparing 
the Plan/SEIS is to further the purposes of NEPA by soliciting more 
public comment and to consider additional information on new snowmobile 
technology not available at the time of the earlier decision. It 
analyzes 5 winter use management alternatives for the parks and 
evaluates the environmental consequences of the alternatives on 
wildlife, air quality, natural quiet, socioeconomics, and visitor 
experience.
    Under alternative 1a-No Action, use and management practices in the 
parks and Parkway as decided by the November 22, 2000 record of 
decision for the Winter Use Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. 
Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway would continue. The decision 
eliminated recreational snowmobile and snowplane use from the parks and 
Parkway by the winter of 2003-2004. Oversnow motorized access would be 
provided by means of mass transit snowcoaches. Alternative 1b is 
essentially the same as alternative 1a with the exception that an 
additional year would be allowed for the phasing in of snowcoach only 
travel. Alternative 2 allows for the use of snowmobiles provided that 
EPA's proposed 2010 emission standards are met and sound levels do not 
exceed 78 decibels for publicly owned machines. It calls for a daily 
cap on numbers of snowmobiles and for increased NPS management of 
winter use. Alternative 3 provides for guided use of snowmobiles 
provided that best available technology standards for both emissions 
and noise levels are met for all machines. Alternative 4, the preferred 
alternative, allows for the use of guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches 
that meet best available technology standards for noise and air 
emissions. All alternatives emphasize an adaptive management strategy 
under which the number of snowmobiles allowed in the parks may be 
adjusted based on the results of monitoring and carrying capacity 
studies.

DATES: The National Park Service will execute a Record of Decision 
(ROD) no sooner than 30 days following publication by the Environmental 
Protection Agency of the notice of availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: The FSEIS Winter Use Plans will be available on February 19, 
2003 in the offices of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton Superintendents 
and on the Internet at http://www.nps.gov/grte/winteruse/winteruse.htm. 
Persons wishing to receive a copy of the document may contact the 
Yellowstone NP Planning Office: PO Box 168, Yellowstone, WY 82190.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Lewis, Superintendent, 
Yellowstone National Park, (307) 344-2005.

    Dated: January 14, 2003.
Karen P. Wade,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 03-4148 Filed 2-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P