[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27087-27088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11408]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Winter Use Plan, 
Yellowstone National Park

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the 
National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a Winter Use Plan for 
Yellowstone National Park, located in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

DATES: The National Park Service will accept comments from the public 
for 60 days after the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes their Notice of Availability. For information on meeting and 
webinar dates, see the SUPPLEMENTRY INFORMATION section below.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/YELL (click on the link to the 
Winter Use Plan), and in the office of Superintendent Dan Wenk, 
Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, 
Wyoming 82190.
    If you wish to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 
you may submit your comments by any one of several methods.
     Internet: We encourage you to comment via the Internet at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/YELL (click on the link to the Winter Use 
Plan).
     Mail: You may also comment by mail to Yellowstone National 
Park, Winter Use Draft EIS, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone NP, WY 82190.
     Hand Delivery: Finally, you may hand deliver your comments 
to Management Assistant's Office, Headquarters Building, Mammoth Hot 
Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY.

Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any other way than 
those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or 
electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicki Regula, P.O. Box 168, 
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, (307) 344-2019, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Park Service intends to hold 
public meetings as follows:
     Jackson, WY on June 1, 2011.
     Cody, WY on June 2, 2011.
     West Yellowstone, MT on June 7, 2011.
     Bozeman, MT. on June 8, 2011.
     Lakewood, CO on June 21, 2011.
     Washington, DC on June 23, 2011.
    In addition, two webinars will be held during the comment period. 
The first will be on June 21, 2011 from Noon to 2:30 p.m. The second 
will be June 22, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Details regarding the 
exact times and locations of these meetings, and how to participate in 
the webinars, will be announced on the NPS Planning, Environment, and 
Public Comment (PEPC) Web site, at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/YELL 
(click on the link to the Winter Use Plan), and through local media.
    Seven alternatives were considered in the DEIS. Alternative 1 would 
not permit public over-snow vehicle (OSV) use in Yellowstone after the 
interim rule expires (after the winter 2010/2011), but would allow for 
approved non-motorized use to continue. Alternative 1 has been 
identified as the environmentally preferable alternative. Alternative 2 
would manage OSV use at the same levels as the 2008 interim rule (318 
snowmobiles and 78 snowcoaches per day). Alternative 3 would allow for 
snowmobile and snowcoach use levels to increase to the levels set forth 
in the 2004 plan (720 snowmobiles and 78

[[Page 27088]]

snowcoaches per day). Alternative 4 would allow for commercially guided 
wheeled vehicles, in addition to OSVs (100 commercially wheeled 
vehicles, 110 snowmobiles and 30 snowcoaches per day). Alternative 5 
would initially allow for the same level of use as alternative 2 (318 
snowmobiles and 78 snowcoaches per day), but would provide for a 
transition to snowcoaches only if user demand is present to support 
such a transition or at the discretion of the Superintendent. Upon 
complete transition, there would be zero snowmobiles and up to 120 
snowcoaches per day. Alternative 6 would provide for use levels that 
vary each day, with a seasonal limit of up to 32,000 snowmobiles and 
4,600 snowcoaches, and a daily limit of up to 540 snowmobiles and 78 
snowcoaches. Up to 25 percent of snowmobile permits under alternative 6 
would be for unguided or non-commercially guided use.
    Alternative 7 is the agency preferred alternative and would provide 
a variety of use levels and experiences for visitors. Four different 
use levels for snowmobiles and snowcoaches would be implemented, the 
combination of which may vary by day. Snowmobile use would range from 
110 to 330 vehicles per day and snowcoach use would range from 30 to 80 
vehicles per day. The varying use levels would provide for high and low 
use days, allowing for a variety of motorized and non-motorized visitor 
experiences throughout the winter season. Commercial guide requirements 
would continue. All snowmobiles and snowcoaches would need to enter the 
park by 10:30 a.m. A requirement to limit nitrogen oxides 
(NOX) emissions would be added to the current Best Available 
Technology requirements for snowmobiles. By 2014-2015, all snowcoaches 
would have to employ model year 2010 engine and emission control 
systems, and all snowcoaches' sound would be limited to 73 decibels, 
similar to the current BAT requirements for snowmobiles. During the 
first winter of implementation, the provisions of the interim plan that 
was in effect for the past two winters would continue. Up to 318 best 
available technology, commercially guided snowmobiles and up to 78 
commercially guided snowcoaches would be allowed to enter the park each 
day during the transition winter.
    More information regarding Yellowstone in the winter, including 
educational materials and a detailed history of winter use in 
Yellowstone, is available at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/winteruse/index.htm.

    Dated: May 5, 2011.
Peggy O'Dell,
Deputy Director, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-11408 Filed 5-6-11; 11:15 am]
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