[Federal Register: February 24, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 36)]
[Notices]
[Page 8618]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24fe03-67]
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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://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=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