On September 15, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an opinion that vacated and remanded to the NPS the 2007 Final Environmental Impact Statement, 2007 Record of Decision, and 2007 Final Rule. The court decision left in place the 2004 rule, which did not provide for snowmobile or snowcoach in the parks beyond 2007.

On November 3, 2008, the National Park Service issued the Winter Use Plans Environmental Assessment: Part 1 (1.9 MB pdf), Part 2 (745 Kb pdf) The preferred alternative would allow up to 318 snowmobiles and 78 snowcoaches per day into Yellowstone for the next 3 winters (through the winter of 2010-11). All snowmobiles will have to be commercially guided and conform to Best Available Technology (BAT) emission and sound level requirements. During the life of the plan, snowcoach operators will be required to implement BAT for their vehicles (BAT requirements for snowcoaches go into effect in 2011). Snowmobile and snowcoach travel will continue to be restricted to existing park roads groomed for their use.

The EA also provides for oversnow vehicle use in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Up to 25 BAT snowmobiles per day will be allowed on Jackson Lake for persons possessing appropriate fishing gear and a valid State of Wyoming fishing license. Up to 25 snowmobiles will be allowed on the Grassy Lake Road, with BAT not required on this road. Guiding is not required for Grand Teton and the Parkway, and these rules are expected to be long-term. For both parks, the NPS proposes to have a final rule in place allowing the parks to open to oversnow vehicle use on Dec. 15, 2008.

The EA is open for public comment from Nov. 3-17, 2008. The NPS’s Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website may be used to submit comments via the Internet. Comments may also be mailed to Management Assistant’s Office, National Park Service, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190; note that they must BE RECEIVED by Nov. 17, 2008.

The purpose of the EA is to ensure that park visitors have a range of appropriate winter recreational opportunities, while ensuring that these recreational activities do not impair or irreparably harm park resources or values. The EA examined the environmental impacts of two different alternatives for managing winter use in the parks. Effects of the alternatives on parksoundscapes, air quality, wildlife, regional socioeconomics, visitor access, visitor experience, and park operations were analyzed. Scoping was not held on the EA because adequate input on the scope and analysis of winter use planning was collected on previous winter use planning documents from 1998 to 2005.

A proposed rule to implement the preferred alternative contained in the new plan will soon be published in the Federal Register, and will also be open for a 15 day public review and comment period. The rulemaking process supports but is separate from the public review and comment period on the EA. The proposed rule and an electronic form to submit written comments can be found on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching the "Documents Open For Public Comment" and selecting the National Park Service as the agency.