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YELLOWSTONE |
IN THE NEWS TODAY: Protecting Yellowstone -- Bruce Gourley Draft of Winter Use Plan Now Online -- NPS Proposed Cellular Tower Sites in Yellowstone -- NPS Grizzly Update -- News Brief NEW! Daily Environmental News -- from ISyndicate |
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 PROTECTING YELLOWSTONEby Bruce Gourley Yellowstone is a national treasure which is owned by the American public. Protecting Yellowstone is the responsibility of the American public. This weekly feature will help identify and explore the issues which are crucial to the ongoing, healthy existence of the "Crown Jewel" of America's National Park system. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- This past weekend Yellowstone supporters heard some great news from the White House: President Clinton announced that the United States Forest Service has reached a $13 million agreement to acquire some 9000 acres adjacent to Yellowstone. The acquired land is located just north of the Park, and represents the majority acreage of the 12,000 acre Royal Teton Ranch, otherwise known as the Church Universal and Triumphant, a New Age religious group. The land is composed of both forest and grasslands, and its acquisition will give bison and other wildlife more room to roam freely. This is especially important for Yellowstone's bison herd, whose numbers are threatened by the Montana Department of Livestock's killing of bison who wonder off Park land during the winter months. Environmental groups are excited about the purchase, although the proposal must now be submitted to Congress for approval. Although there is no indication that Congress will refuse to approve this particular request, the GOP-controlled Congress in general has resisted efforts to preserve the environment. The proposed GOP tax cut seeks to relax environmental regulation. You can help by writing or emailing your congressman. Tell them to approve the purchase of the 9000 acres of land just north of Yellowstone National Park.
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Ralph Maughan
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DRAFT OF WINTER
USE PLAN NOW ONLINE by National Park ServiceYELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- The Draft Winter Use Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway has been released and is available for public review and comment until November 15, 1999. The draft plan contains a range of winter use management alternatives for the parks and the justification, anticipated impacts and relevant scientific research regarding each of the alternatives. "Our goal is to offer a range of quality winter experiences that don't compromise the protection of the parks," said Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley. Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Jack Neckels noted, "The winter use planning process will help us determine what types and levels of winter recreation are appropriate for each park area." The winter use planning process is the result of a May 1997 lawsuit filed by several conservation and animal rights organizations and individuals. If the lawsuit had been fought unsuccessfully, all winter use of the parks could have been halted until an Environmental Impact Statement was completed. The National Park Service opted instead to pursue a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs, which allowed activities to continue under the existing winter use plan while the Environmental Impact Statement was prepared according to a prescribed schedule. The ninety-day review and comment period is double the length of time required by departmental policy, and thirty days longer than required by the settlement agreement. The extended review and comment period is in recognition of the complexity of the proposals, the degree of public interest in the draft plan, and the desire of the NPS for thoughtful public input based on a thorough review of the draft plan. An even longer public review and comment period is not feasible due to the September 1, 2000 deadline for completion of the final plan contained in the settlement agreement. Therefore, requests for any additional extension of the public comment period cannot be granted. The complete Draft Winter Use Plan and Environmental Impact Statement may be reviewed on the Internet at www.nps.gov/yell/technical/planning/. Printed copies of the complete document (700+ pages) or its executive summary will be available in mid-September. To request a copy of the document, its executive summary, or to submit written comments on the plan, write: Clifford Hawkes, National Park Service, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228. Comments on the Draft Plan/EIS will be accepted by mail or by e-mail at yell_winter_use@nps.gov. A series of public meetings regarding the draft plan will be held during the review and comment period. A complete schedule with meeting dates, times, and locations will be released in mid-September once details have been finalized. |
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CELLULAR TOWER SITES IN YELLOWSTONE by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley announced today that the Environmental Assessment-Old Faithful and Grant Village, Cellular Communications Sites is available for public comment for 30 days. Comments may be submitted through September 15, 1999. Two locations are identified in this document for placement of cellular communications sites in the Old Faithful and Grant Village areas. The first site is at an existing buried water tank located just south of the National Park Service maintenance area at Old Faithful. The second site is at the location of the existing communications tower and water tank about one mile southeast of Grant Village. Construction at the proposed locations will cause minimal impacts on Yellowstone Park recreational opportunities and natural resources. Construction in these locations will not impact any cultural, wildlife, or wetland resources. The purpose in allowing the project is to augment cellular phone service in both the Old Faithful and Grant Village areas. It is anticipated that emergency and normal electronic communications capabilities for visitors, employees, and local citizens will improve significantly. The proposed antenna tower at the Old Faithful location will be camouflaged to reduce its visibility from locations in the area. It is not anticipated that the proposed antenna at Grant Village will be visible to viewers in the developed area, but would appear in distant views from Yellowstone Lake. Construction activities at both locations are expected to occur during the autumn of 1999. Copies of the Environmental Assessment-Old Faithful and Grant Village, Cellular Communications Sites may be obtained by writing: Cellular Communications Sites, Old Faithful and Grant, Planning Office, P.O. 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. |
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| GRIZZLY UPDATE News BriefA recent set of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service goals that are geared toward removing the grizzly from the endangered species list fall short of what is necessary to protect the nomadic creature's habitat in and around Yellowstone National Park, conservation groups say. Word of plans to delist Yellowstone grizzly bears first surfaced in May 1998 when Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., said he had gotten assurances from Fish and Wildlife Service Director Jamie Rappapport Clark that the agency would delist the bears within the next few years. For the full story, click here. |
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