2009 Winter Use Plan Finding of No Significant Impact

A new plan to provide for limited, regulated snowmobile and snowcoach access in Yellowstone National Park for the next two winters was approved October 15, 2009.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) and proposed rule were released for public review in fall 2008. Comments received have been reviewed, and a Finding of No Significant Impact has been signed.

The plan allows up to 318 commercially guided, Best Available Technology (BAT) snowmobiles, and up to 78 commercially guided snowcoaches in a day in Yellowstone for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 winter seasons. It also continues to provide for motorized oversnow travel over Sylvan Pass and the East Entrance road.

During the next two years, the National Park Service will prepare a new Environmental Impact Statement and a new long term plan for winter use in Yellowstone National Park.

A rule to implement the decision will be published in the coming weeks in the Federal Register, to allow the parks to open for the winter season as scheduled on December 15, 2009.

Document Content:

2009 Winter Use Plan Finding of No Significant Impact   (651.7 KB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.