Yellowstone seeks comments on winter use adaptive management adjustments

The National Park Service (NPS) encourages public comment on a proposal to adjust winter operating dates and times in Yellowstone National Park. The park is proposing two adaptive management modifications to the 2012-2013 Winter Use Plan and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)/ Record of Decision (ROD). The modifications include:

1) Align the opening and closing dates for the East Entrance with other park entrances. Under this change, the East Entrance would open no earlier than December 15 and close no later than March 15. The existing seasonal closures of December 15-21 and March 2-15 were originally implemented due to avalanche safety concerns on Sylvan Pass. With many years of implementation, the NPS now has the operational capacity and expertise to safely open the pass on December 15 and to keep it open until March 15. This change will standardize opening and closing dates for the entire park.

2) Change the daily opening time for the South Entrance from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The current opening time means that contract holders/operators leave Jackson, Wyoming, well before sunrise, and before road conditions can be properly assessed and hazards mitigated by NPS staff. 

Proposed changes for the East and South Entrances are permitted under the Winter Use SEIS and ROD, which allows for adaptive management. The proposed changes do not require revisions to the Final Winter Use Rule. The park will make a decision on this proposal after evaluating public comments and completing compliance requirements for the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and other applicable laws and regulations.

Comments must be received by October 29, 2020. Comments may be submitted online at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/winteruseAM or by mail. Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or other means.

Mail comments to: Compliance Office, Attention: Winter Use Adaptive Management, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190.  

Public Comment Considerations

Bulk comments in any format submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted.

Before including your address, phone number, email, or other personal information, be aware that your entire comment – including your personally identifiable information – may be made public at any time. You may ask us to withhold your personally identifiable information from public review, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Link to Winter Use Management: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/winter-use-management.html.