The following links will take you to planning projects in Yellowstone National Park, including Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Environmental Assessments (EAs), management plans, and decision documents, such as Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs) and Records of Decision (RODs). A glossary of these terms is found at the end of this document. A number of these documents are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free online, to be viewed or printed.

PEPC - Planning, Environment, and Public Comment

Many of our ongoing planning projects are now found on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) web page. Please click on the PEPC link (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yell) if you do not find what you need below.

Yellowstone Roads

A Newsletter about Ongoing Issues with Yellowstone Roads (132 KB pdf)

Yellowstone Reevaluates Environmental Issues for Third Phase of Reconstruction of East Entrance Road (44 KB pdf)

Projects Currently on Public Review

Wireless EA (7.2 MB pdf)
This plan/EA was prepared to protect park resources and values by limiting the types and locations of wireless services and infrastructure in Yellowstone National Park. Any new and appropriate wireless infrastructure would only be established at locations adhering to strict siting criteria. Wireless communication services covered in this plan include cellular phone services, NPS two-way radio system, resource monitoring stations, and wireless fidelity (WiFi) services. The EA is available for comment on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) site until 10/31/08 at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov

Plans in Progress

These projects are either "on hold" or are in the process of being written.

Completed Planning Projects

Restoration of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the East Fork Speciman Creek Watershed Enviromental Assessment FONSI - approved July 7, 2006

Restoration of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the East Fork Specimen Creek Watershed Environmental Assessment (2.4 MB pdf) - Public comment period closed June 7, 2006.

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center FONSI (65 KB pdf) - approved August 30, 2005.

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center EA (423 KB pdf) - Public comment period closed March 10, 2005.

Remote Vaccination Program for Bison (299 KB pdf) - Public comment period closed October 2, 2004.

Canyon Ranger Station / Emergency Services Building - FONSI (327 KB pdf) - approved September 21, 2004.

Canyon Ranger Station / Emergency Services Building EA (785 KB pdf) - Comment period ended on November 7, 2003.

West Entrance Project FONSI (528 KB pdf) - signed March 19, 2004.

West Entrance Project EA (1.3 MB pdf) - Comment period closed October 7, 2003.

Mammoth Housing Plan - FONSI approved June 20, 2003.

Mammoth Housing Plan EA (488 KB pdf) - Comment period closed November 4, 2002.

Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Management FONSI - FONSI approved May 19, 2003.

Wildland-Urban Interface Fuels Management EA (2.75 MB pdf) - Comment period closed on November 8, 2002.

Norris Water and Wastewater FONSI - FONSI approved November 25, 2002.

Norris Water and Wastewater Project EA (2.2 MB pdf) - Comment period ended on October 4, 2002.

Road Resurfacing, Restoration, and Rehabilitation, Canyon Junction to Fishing Bridge Junction (166 KB pdf) - FONSI approved July 2, 2002.

Canyon Junction to Tower Junction Road Improvement (100 KB pdf) - FONSI approved July 2, 2002.

Canyon Junction to Tower Junction Road Improvement Environmental Assessment (1.1MB pdf) (Dunraven Road). A 60-day public review period closed November 23, 2001. FONSI approved July 2, 2002.

Yellowstone Justice Center - FONSI (116 KB pdf) approved April 15, 2005.

Yellowstone Justice Center EA (528 KB pdf) - comment period ended on November 24, 2004.

Canyon Contractor Camp Environmental Assessment (1.2MB pdf) 
FONSI Approved November 2001.

Canyon Junction to Fishing Bridge Junction 3R Road Project EA (1.4MB pdf). A 30-day review period closed November 16, 2001. FONSI approved July 2, 2002.

Environmental Assessment Canyon Visitor Center Rehabilitation (449 KB pdf) - FONSI Approved May 2001.

Mammoth Public Restroom Environmental Assessment (999K pdf) (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free on-line.) FONSI Approved May 2001.

Record of Decision for Final Environmental Impact Statement and Bison Management Plan (1MB pdf)

Summary Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Interagency Bison Management Plan for the State of Montana and Yellowstone National Park (html version).

Long Range Interpretive Plan (1.6MB pdf) - What the Division of Interpretation is planning over the next 10 years.

Yellowstone National Park Strategic Plan (1.9 MB pdf)
This publication was produced to fulfill the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and to provide direction in our efforts to achieve the National Park Service mission.

Winter Use Projects

Winter Use Planning for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway

Winter Use Planning in the National Forests and National Parks of the Greater Yellowstone Area

Glossary of Terms

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): An EIS is prepared when a proposed action or alternatives have the potential for significant effect on the human environment.

Environmental Assessment (EA): An EA is prepared to determine whether the impact of a proposed action or alternatives could be significant. 

Record of Decision (ROD): The document that is prepared to substantiate a decision based on an EIS. It includes a statement of the decision made, a detailed discussion of decision rationale, and the reasons for not adopting all mitigation measures analyzed, if applicable.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI): A determination based on an EA and other factors in the public planning record for a proposal that, if implemented, would have no significant impact on the human environment.

Scoping: The procedure by which an agency identifies important issues and determines the extent of analysis necessary for an informed decision on a proposed action. Scoping, an integral part of environmental analysis, includes early involvement of interested and affected public, as well as internal and external agency contacts. Although formal scoping occurs for a specific time period, we welcome your comments on projects while we are in the process of preparing plans.