Editor's Note: We received this news release from the Blue Ribbon Coalition.

The next Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) process will start on February 3, 2012, and could provide for a much-needed, reasonable, science-based, long-range Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone National Park .

The first step in the new SEIS process is scoping, which the Service defines as:
"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."

It is important that snowmobilers comment during the scoping process. The formal process will start with the Federal Register Notice on February 3, 2012.  The Scoping Process will allow 30 days for comments from the public, and will formally end in early March 2012.

The Park service will be holding open houses during the scoping period to answer questions about winter use issues, draft alternatives, and the process of preparing the Supplemental EIS. The meetings schedule is listed below
Monday,  Feb. 13th in Cody WY : Holiday Inn, 1702 Sheridan Ave
Tuesday,  Feb. 14th in Jackson , WY : The Virginian Lodge, 750 W. Broadway
Wednesday, Feb. 15th in West Yellowstone MT : Holiday Inn, 315 Yellowstone Ave.
Thursday, Feb. 16th in Bozeman . MT: Holiday Inn Baxter Lane    
All four open houses will run from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

Note: BlueRibbon is developing important areas to comment on, and will have that information available in the near future.  Please visit our dedicated website at www.saveyellowstonepark.com for updates.

Note: To review the Park Service media release on the Long-Term Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone and announcement of the Public Open Houses Scheduled in February, click on the following link.
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/YNP_Long-Term_Winter_Use_Plan_JAN-2012.pdf