|
||||
| FRIDAY January 26, 2001 Vol 5, # 8 |
|
|
||||
| FRIDAY January 26, 2001 Vol 5, # 8 |
|
|
. | |
| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion Free Yellowstone Email Email Newsletter | |
YELLOWSTONE ROAD
REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
|
FINAL SNOWMOBILE
REGULATIONS PUBLISHED National Park Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- A final rule required to implement portions of a Record of Decision for winter use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway has been finalized and published (January 22, 2001) in the Federal Register. The rule provides for interim actions to be implemented to reduce the impacts of snowmobile use during the winter use season of 2002-2003; and effective the end of the 2002-2003 winter use season, allows for oversnow motorized recreation access by NPS-managed snowcoach only, with limited exceptions for continued snowmobile access to other public and private lands adjacent to or within Grand Teton National Park. The Record of Decision, published November 22, 2000, followed many years of study to determine what kind of winter activities are appropriate for the three parks. Based on studies done for the Environmental Impact Statement—which led to the Record of Decision—it was determined that snowmobile use in the three parks so adversely affects air quality, wildlife, natural soundscapes, and the enjoyment of other visitors that the resources and values of these parks are impaired. That is contrary to the mandate of the National Park Service Organic Act that parks be left "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Executive Orders issued by Presidents Nixon and Carter and the Service’s own regulation on snowmobile use also prohibits snowmobile use in national parks where it disturbs wildlife, damages park resources, or is inconsistent with the park’s natural, cultural, scenic, aesthetic values, safety considerations, or management objectives. The decision to phase out most snowmobile use over the next three years in favor of multi-passenger snowcoaches best meets the legal mandates and protects park resources while offering winter visitors a range of experiences. The phase in period should help mitigate economic impacts to surrounding communities. The draft regulations were published in the Federal Register on December 18, 2000, and open for public comment until January 17, 2001. More than 5,200 comments were received and considered in the public process. |
|
| . | . | . |
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Russ Finley
|
YELLOWSTONE
RECRUITS FOR 2001 YCC PROGRAM YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (NPS) -- Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley has announced that recruiting for the park's 2001 Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program has begun. The YCC is a summer employment program for young men and women ages 15 through 18. Through work projects done in the park, the YCC provides enrollees with a better understanding of their environment and management of our natural resources. The 2001 YCC program will run for eight weeks from June 16 through August 11, and participants will be required to live on location. Room and board will be provided at a minimal cost to enrollees. Wages will be set at the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour. The program will consist of a 30-member camp with enrollees selected nationwide. Participants must be at least 15 years of age by June 16, but must not turn 19 until after August 11. Applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2001. Selections will be made randomly from all qualifying applicants. Crews will focus their efforts on projects dealing with rehabilitation of trails and backcountry areas, bridge reconstruction, and a wide variety of resource management, maintenance, and research projects. A wide spectrum of environmental education programs will be offered as part of this year's program, as well as an extensive recreation program. For further information and/or application, please contact the YCC Program Manager at Yellowstone National Park headquarters by calling (307) 344-2148 or by writing the park, Attention: YCC Program, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190. More information and an application are available on the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/yell/technical/jobs/ycc.htm . Please return the completed application to the address noted above. |
|
| e | . | . |
| GLACIER UPDATE National Park Service GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont. (NPS) -- Suzanne Lewis, Superintendent at Glacier National Park, has announced she is extending the public comment deadline on the revised draft environmental assessment (EA) for the Walton Developed Area. The revised environmental assessment (EA) analyzes the proposed construction of a public parking area and accessible stock ramp for horse users who are physically challenged in the Walton developed area. The new parking area would provide additional parking for horse trailers and hikers. Under the current deadline, comments were to be postmarked no later than Friday, January 26, 2001. Lewis stated that the decision was made to extend the current 30-day comment period another 10 work days due to public interest in this process. Written public comments must now be postmarked no later than Friday, February 9, 2001. "We want to be sure and have all concerns, and alternatives before the NPS begins its analysis process," stated Lewis. This public involvement, which is part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, is intended to ensure the NPS has gathered the full range and spectrum of issues and comments on the revised EA. "After the EA was released for review in September 2000 additional analysis was required. The EA was revised to reflect this analysis. In response to public comments and concerns, other changes were also incorporated into the EA." The proposed project involves construction of a new parking area for horse trailers and trucks, as well as providing an accessible stock ramp for visitors who are physically challenged. If the project is finally approved, the National Park Service (NPS) will partner with the Backcountry Horsemen organization, who are seeking a grant, and, if awarded, would contribute some of the funds needed to complete the project. The parking area would be located within the Wild and Scenic River corridor, but on a previously disturbed site adjacent to U.S. Highway 2 within the Walton developed area of Glacier. This new parking area would relieve congestion in the Walton Historic District. This project also includes delineation of the visitor service zone that was conceptually described in Glacier's General Management Plan and calls for replacement of a trailer with permanent employee housing. Also included within the scope of this project is the construction of a new comfort station and improved visitor information services. The revised EA also analyzes use of the proposed parking area site as a staging area for the Montana Department of Transportation's (MDOT) planned project to replace the Essex Bridge over the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, near Walton. After the bridge is constructed, MDOT would convert the staging site to the proposed parking area. Currently visitors with stock trailers must drive into the Walton area, unload their stock using a pre-existing stock truck ramp that does not accommodate trailers or provide handicap accessibility, and then park on the road shoulder. The parking and access to the stock truck ramp create congestion and this has also caused damage to roadside resources, including soil compaction and trampling of native vegetation. Copies of the revised draft EA are available at all branches of the Flathead and Glacier County Libraries, at the Missoula County Library, and via Glacier's web site at www.nps.gov/glac/whatsnew/planning.htm. The document is also available upon request from park headquarters by writing to the Superintendent, Walton Area Project, Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana 59936 or by calling (406) 888-7972. Written comments should be mailed to the Superintendent, Walton Area Project, Glacier National Park, West Glacier, Montana 59936 or transmitted via e-mail at glac_public_comments@nps.gov and now must be postmarked by February 9th. |
||
| w | . | . |
| NEW NATIONAL MONUMENTS
INFORMATION National Park Service WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPS) -- New National Monuments - The "Park History National Monument" web page (www.cr.nps.gov/history/antiq.htm) has been updated to include information on the new national monuments created by President Clinton. The page includes a link to a BLM web page with illustrations and descriptions of those sites within their jurisdiction (most of them), a history of the Antiquities Act and its application, and a list of monuments established by presidents. |
||
| |
||
