Yellowstone Study Won’t Be Expanded Agency To Keep Winter Use Assessment Separate From Management Evaluation

Sun., March 8, 1998

Associated Press

The National Park Service has decided not to expand the scope of a study on winter use in Yellowstone National Park, and state and federal officials praised the decision.

The park is preparing an environmental impact statement on winter use as ordered in a settlement with an environmental group. Officials had discussed expanding the study to include general management of the park.

National Park Service Intermountain Regional Director John Cook told Gov. Jim Geringer of the decision Friday.

“I support the National Park Service in its desire to prepare a General Management Plan and I have offered the state’s assistance when they begin the planning process. I am pleased that the NPS agrees that an environmental impact statement is not the forum to conduct the study,” Geringer said in a statement.

Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and five counties surrounding the park are cooperating agencies in the study, which means they can help determine what issues it will review. Montana was the only government in favor of the expansion.

The Fund for Animals, which filed the lawsuit, was also against expansion.

Geringer and U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas wrote National Park Service Director Bob Stanton last month urging him to decide against expansion.

Thomas said he was pleased with the decision because it will allow the study to have a clear purpose and to be completed under a specific deadline.

“The idea to broaden the scope would have left the participants subject to too many variables,” Thomas said.

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