Environmental statements; availability, etc.: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memoral Parkway, WY; winter use plan; comment request,

[Federal Register: April 29, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 82)]

[Notices]

[Page 23472-23473]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29ap98-86]

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

National Park Service

Request for Public Comment on Appropriate Studies on Winter Use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Solicitation of public comment on appropriate research topics on winter use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway.

SUMMARY: On September 24, 1998 the National Park Service and the Fund for Animals and other individuals and organizations signed a settlement agreement to resolve litigation concerning the National Park Service Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone National and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. Under the terms of the agreement the National Park Service agreed to solicit comments on appropriate studies they should conduct on winter use in the parks for use in the ongoing winter use planning process. However, due to the time constraints

[[Page 23473]]

imposed by the settlement agreement, some of the proposed and ongoing winter use research may not be completed in time for incorporation into the draft winter use plans and environmental impact statement.

The National Park Service requests that all individuals, organizations, agencies or entities that are interested in or affected by winter visitor use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway share comments or concerns on appropriate topics of research for use in the winter use planning process.

Background

Winter use research projects currently underway in the affected national parks include: the social carrying capacity of Yellowstone National Park for winter use, Hayden Valley bison monitoring, bison use of groomed roads in Yellowstone National Park, characterization of snowmobile particulate emissions, measurement of airborne toxics and regulated pollutants emitted from snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park, and snowpack and snowmelt runoff chemical analysis at Yellowstone National Park. In addition, research projects are currently being conducted on bison ecology and brucellosis. These studies include forage availability, habitat use, and bison population dynamics.

Proposed research topics include, but are not limited to, snowmobile emissions and the effects of ethanol based fuels, snowmobile mogul generation, a field evaluation of gasohol's ability to reduce snowmobiler exposure to carbon monoxide, noise monitoring, an assessment of winter recreation on wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, and a study of the economics of winter use in the Greater Yellowstone Area.

Comments

Written comments concerning appropriate research topics on winter use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway should be postmarked no later than sixty (60) days from the publication of this notice. Comments should be addressed to Winter Use Research, Planning Office, Box 168, Yellowstone National Park WY, 82190.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Creachbaum, Planning Office, Box 168, Yellowstone National Park WY, 82190, (307) 344-2024; or Nancy Arkin, Planning Office, Grand Teton National Park, Box 170, Moose WY, 83102 (307) 739-3486.

Dated: April 15, 1998. John E. Cook, Regional Director, Intermountain Region.

[FR Doc. 98-11286Filed4-28-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-70-P