Plan Process

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Yellowstone National Park will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for the Old Faithful Comprehensive Plan over the next year. The plan will focus on protecting the area's resources while responding to changing visitor and resource needs and conditions. The purpose of the EA is to present alternatives and evaluate their potential impacts to natural and cultural resources and scenery, as well as visitor use and experience, park operations, and public health and safety. The following steps describe our planning process:

* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Define purpose and need for plan
Step 2. Conduct public scoping
Step 3. Develop alternatives
Step 4. Identify environmental impacts and select preferred alternative
Step 5. Prepare draft plan/environmental document
Step 6. Public review of plan/environmental document *
Step 7. Analysis of public comment
Step 8. Prepare final plan/decision document
Step 9. Release final plan/decision document to the public
Step 10. Prepare draft plan/environmental document