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| MONDAY October 9, 2000 Vol 4, # 64 |
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| MONDAY October 9, 2000 Vol 4, # 64 |
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| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion Free Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |
YELLOWSTONE ROAD
REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
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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) -- As reported last week, the National Park Service has extended until October 17 the public comment period on the final environmental impact statement addressing management of Yellowstone's bison. Currently, the Montana Department of Livestock reserves the right to shoot stray bison who wander out of the Park during the winter months, based on the fear that brucellosis, a disease carried by some of the bison, might be transmitted to domestic cattle in the area. Although scientific studies do not support the fears of the DOL, well over one thousand bison have been slaughtered since 1996. The Park Service's EIS falls short of demanding that the DOL cease the killing of bison, but rather suggests that the wild bison and domestic cattle remain separated enough to reduce the killing of bison. Environmentalists decry the proposal as not doing enough to protect Yellowstone's bison. The fact is that under the proposed policy, very little changes in regards to how bison are managed in Yellowstone. The Montana DOL is still allowed to kill Yellowstone's bison, just as they have been doing in past years. Perhaps the most tragic aspect of the bison killings is that a mere 2000 domestic cattle near Yellowstone National Park are being valued at a higher priority than America's remaining wild bison. In effect, the bison are held hostage by the cattle industry based on nothing more than unwarranted fears. The Montana DOL stands alone against the world in declaring that Yellowstone's bison must die. The NPS is trying to not offend the involved parties. How long will the madness continue? The EIS is available for viewing by clicking here. Comments on the EIS should be sent to Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. (Yellowstone Net provides you opportunity to voice your opinion regarding the various Yellowstone issues to your congresspersons and to editorial sections of magazines and newspapers by clicking here.) |
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Ralph Maughan
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END OF
SEASON ROAD CLOSINGS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley announced today the park's first section of road inside the park is scheduled to close for the fall season on Tuesday, October 10, 2000. Dunraven Pass (Tower Fall via Dunraven Pass to Canyon) will close at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, as will the Beartooth Pass outside the Northeast Entrance of the park. The road from the Northeast Entrance to Cody, Wyoming, (Highway 296) will remain open until November 6, 2000. The remainder of the park roads (with the exception of the road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, Montana) will close for the season to the public at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 6. Beginning November 6, snow will be allowed to accumulate on park roadways in preparation for the winter season. At 8 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2000, Yellowstone is scheduled to open for the winter season to oversnow vehicles. Winter oversnow road openings are dependent on sufficient snow. Groomed roads will begin to close to oversnow vehicle use at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 5, 2001, with the closure of the Mammoth-to-Norris road. On Wednesday, March 7, Norris Junction to Madison Junction, and Norris Junction to Canyon will close. All remaining groomed roads will close to oversnow vehicle use at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 12, 2001. The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, Montana, remains open year-round to automobile traffic; this road is subject to temporary closures, and chains or snow tires may be required at times due to hazardous winter driving conditions. Park visitors are reminded that with the closing of park roads, the fishing season in Yellowstone also closes (at 10 p.m. on Sunday, November 5) in ALL portions of the park. When the interior park roads close to automobile traffic on November 6, non-motorized travel in the form of bicycles, roller blades and roller skis, will be allowed as long as weather permits. Specific information on these types of activities can be obtained by contacting the park. Weather conditions could temporarily close some roads earlier than scheduled. |
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| BECHLER AREA DEVELOPMENT
PLAN by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael V. Finley has announced that the park is soliciting comments on the issues and alternatives to be considered in an environmental assessment (EA) for a development concept plan (DCP) for the Bechler area. Visitor facilities and employee housing at Bechler are inadequate. The park is proposing construction of a new visitor contact station that adequately accommodates visitor services, emergency services, and storage. Housing for seasonal employees is also needed. The Bechler area is located 26 miles from
Ashton, Idaho, at the end of a twelve-mile gravel road, and is not accessible by any of
the major park roads. Employees living at Bechler provide information and emergency
services to visitors, protect park resources, and provide boundary patrol in this isolated
region of the park. |
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| MAMMOTH RESTROOM
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC by National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael V. Finley announced today that the Mammoth Public Restroom Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for a 30-day public review beginning October 6, 2000. Written comments are due November 6, 2000. The park proposes the construction of a public restroom in the Mammoth Hot Springs developed area. The proposed restroom would be located southwest of the Yellowstone Park Service Station and in close proximity to the station, tour bus parking areas, and Hamilton General Store. The restroom would accommodate pedestrian traffic between the Albright Visitor Center and the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. In July 1999, there were 74,473 visitors to the Albright Visitor Center—an average of nearly 2,400 visitors per day. Public restrooms provided by the National Park Service (NPS) at the visitor center, the Mammoth Campground, and the Upper Terrace parking area (one vault toilet) do not accommodate the large number of park visitors to the area. Additionally, the visitor center restrooms are not accessible to park visitors with disabilities. There are other restrooms located within concession facilities in Mammoth, but overall numbers remain inadequate. The proposed public restroom would be located within the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District at a site that was once the location of the Cottage Hotel, a three and one-half story log structure built in 1885 and demolished in 1964. The NPS would ensure the restroom design would be compatible with buildings within the historic district. Copies of the document are available for review by writing to: Mammoth Public Restroom Project, Planning Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. The Mammoth Public Restroom Environmental Assessment may also be found on the Internet at www.nps.gov/yell/technical/planning/index.htm. |
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