{"id":6849,"date":"2013-03-05T17:47:03","date_gmt":"2013-03-06T00:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yellowstonegate.com\/?p=6849"},"modified":"2017-02-20T12:03:28","modified_gmt":"2017-02-20T19:03:28","slug":"yellowstone-seeks-public-input-on-commercial-activities-plan-horse-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yellowstonegate.com\/?p=6849","title":{"rendered":"Yellowstone seeks public input on commercial activities plan, horse trips"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Park<\/a>
Park County Travel Council Marketing Director Claudia Wade, right, chats with visitors to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo. about a refurbished 1936 tour bus that is used for commercial tours in Yellowstone National Park. (Yellowstone Gate file photo\/Ruffin Prevost)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From Staff Reports<\/h3>\n

The National Park Service is planning to change how commercial business are permitted to operate in Yellowstone National Park, and a series of public meetings are scheduled in gateway towns around the region to offer information and hear public comment on the draft plan.<\/p>\n

From boat tours to horseback rides, anyone engaged in commercial operations within the park must first be authorized by the Park Service. Park managers are planning on changing the process under which such activities are authorized, and the result could be more competition among commercial operators.<\/p>\n

\"Proposed<\/a>
Proposed changes to how commercial services will be authorized.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The purpose of the draft plan is to improve the Commercial Use Authorization program\u2019s consistency with federal laws, policies, and guidelines, according to a statement released by the Yellowstone public affairs office.<\/p>\n

Under the proposed new plan, the park would begin issuing new permits and introduce a new fee structure for commercial operators beginning in April 2013, with full implementation to be completed by April 2015.\u00a0 Existing CUA holders would see increased competition and higher fees. The plan also provides an opportunity for new commercial operators to conduct business inside the park.<\/p>\n

Many of the aspects of the draft plan will affect both existing and potential CUA holders, including an open application process, new operating plans, new fee schedules, new reporting requirements, NPS staff evaluations, NPS provided training, resource monitoring and increased competition for CUAs if the park determines that the number of authorizations for a particular service category must be limited.<\/p>\n

According to planning documents, the total category of commercial use categories will be reduced and consolidated. The draft CUA plan and associated operating plans for various activity types are available for public review and comments at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at http:\/\/parkplanning.nps.gov\/cuaplan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Respondents are encouraged to submit their comments online by March 31.<\/p>\n

The public is encouraged to attend the following public meetings, which will provide a brief presentation followed by questions and answers.<\/p>\n