Snowmobiles access to Yellowstone continues for 2011-2012

On Dec. 15, 2011, Yellowstone National Park will open for winter use with the same snowmobile regulations from last year.

“National Park Service planners will implement a “One-Year Rule” for the upcoming 2011-2012 winter season, in order to allow time to better address significant public input regarding the proposed long-term regulation,” the National Park Service says in a release.

Up to 318 commercially guided BAT (best available technology) snowmobiles and up to 78 commercially guided snowcoaches per day will be allowed in Yellowstone for the 2011/2012 season. As well, oversnow travel will be allowed to continue over the East Entrance road and Sylvan Pass.

More than 58,000 responses were received during the 60-day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that closed on July 18, with significant input on the long-term proposal’s requirements and approaches. The goal had been to have a new long-term final Winter Use Plan / Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and regulation in effect for the park by December 2011. However, the National park Service wants to further analyze the following before issuing a long-term regulation:

• Variable preset use limits • Air quality and sound modeling assumptions • Proposed Best Available Technology (BAT) for snowcoaches • Adaptive management framework for emerging technologies • Costs of avalanche mitigation efforts on Sylvan Pass • The 10:30 entry time requirement included in the preferred alternative • Opportunities for non-commercially guided access

The NPS intends to have a long-term regulation in place before the start of the 2012-2013 winter season.

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