Moose Wastewater/Water System Environmental Assessment Available for Public Review

Date: March 27, 2012
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 307.739.3431

Grand Teton National Park released today the Replace Moose Wastewater System and Address Critical Water System Deficiencies Environmental Assessment (Moose Wastewater/Water Systems EA) for public review. This environmental assessment will be open for review for 30 days from March 27-April 27, 2012. 

The purpose for this proposed action is to replace the wastewater treatment facilities and address critical deficiencies in the water system at Moose, Wyoming. These systems have been in service for more than 50 years and therefore exceeded their design life. The project would ensure efficient wastewater and water services, improve public health and safety, and meet requirements for fighting structural fires at the Moose and Beaver Creek developed areas. Upgrades and improvements would provide a safe, healthy, and efficient working and living environment for park employees and their families while also ensuring adequate visitor services. 

Prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Moose Wastewater/Water Systems EA examines three alternatives for replacing the wastewater system and the existing waterline from the Moose headquarters campus to the Beaver Creek area. The alternatives include: alternative 1-no action/continue current management; alternative 2-replace the Moose water system and wastewater treatment plant (NPS preferred alternative); and alternative 3-replace the water system and convey wastewater to the town of Jackson. The preferred alternative would replace most water system pumping, storage, and transmission components. It would provide gravity flow of water for firefighting and potable use from a new, 300,000- gallon tank located near Taggart Creek. A new wastewater treatment plant would be constructed near the Moose Post Office. Alternative 3 would replace most water system components and use gravity flow, but would divide water storage between two new tanks, replacing those currently at the Taggart site and at Windy Point on the Teton Park Road. A 12-mile-long, pressurized sewer line would convey wastewater from Moose and the Jackson Hole Airport to the town of Jackson sewer system for treatment in the publicly owned treatment plant. 

Copies of the Moose Wastewater/Water Systems EA are available online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov or on the park's web site at https://www.nps.gov/grte/parkmgmt/planning.htm. You may also request a copy through the park's Planning Office by calling 307-739-3390. 

Hard copies of the Moose Wastewater/Water Systems EA are available at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming and at the Reference Desk in the Teton County Library. 

For individuals who choose to submit a comment, be advised that any responses given-including personal identifying information-could be made public at any time. While people making comments may request that their personal identifying information be withheld from public access, there is no guarantee that the NPS will be able to honor such a request.