Old Faithful Cabin Repurposing and Dormitory Construction Plan Approved

Date: April 3, 2012

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
   
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2012           12-020    

Al Nash or Dan Hottle
[phone]
[e-mail]

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
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Old Faithful Cabin Repurposing and Dormitory Construction Plan Approved

A plan to return 67 cabin units that are presently used for concessioner employee housing in the Old Faithful Lodge Area to visitor use and construct a new dormitory in the Old Faithful Administrative Area has been approved.

A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) allowing repurposing the cabins to provide an increased number of affordable visitor lodging units at Old Faithful and construction of a new employee dormitory for displaced employees was signed by the National Park Service Intermountain Region Director on April 2, 2012. An Environmental Assessment (EA) that analyzed three alternatives was released for public review and comment in January 2012.

Among the highlights of the approved preferred alternative:

• Provide for additional affordable lodging options in Yellowstone National Park.
• Rehabilitating the interior of the cabin units would include new floor coverings, wall coverings, electrical systems, bathroom fixtures, and gas heaters. A portion of the cabins would be made accessible.
• Enhancing safety and improving accessibility of pathways to the cabin area. Many of the asphalt walkways within the cabin area are old and deteriorating with numerous rough spots, uneven surfaces, raveling edges, and missing pavement. These walkways would be replaced or repaired as part of this project.
• Construction of an employee dormitory in the Old Faithful administrative area for employees displaced from the repurposed cabin units.

The project will proceed when funding becomes available, with the cost of the project to be determined when detailed designs are completed.

Copies of the EA and the FONSI are available on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yell.

- www.nps.gov/yell -

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