From drafting wildlife management plans, rehabilitating historic park buildings, to planning large-scale road improvement projects, the National Park Service (NPS) prepares a variety of planning and environmental documents to guide the management and protection of park resources for future generations. Yellowstone National Park is unique and complex because it’s not only home to thousands of hydrothermal features and species of animals and plants across 2.2 million acres – it's also home to a community of about 4,500 NPS employees, volunteers, and concessions workers during the peak summer season. The park also stewards almost 900 historic structures that require additional considerations and coordination when planning park projects. With more than 4.5 million visitors each year, the park must also consider construction timing, potential closures, and other factors that could impact the visitor experience. Glossary of TermsNot another acronym! You might notice some unfamiliar lingo when looking into park planning efforts. What does it all mean?
The NPS PEPC website is the official site for public involvement in the National Park Service’s planning process. On this site, you can submit comments and find documents, projects, policies, and guidance for various projects across the National Park Service system.
Scoping is the procedure of identifying important issues and determining the level of analysis necessary for an informed decision on a proposed project. Scoping is an important part of environmental analysis and includes early involvement of the public and internal and external agency contacts. Although formal scoping occurs for a specific time period, we welcome public comments on park projects while we are in the process of preparing plans.
A CE is a brief document prepared when a proposed project is determined to not, under normal circumstances, significantly impact the environment.
An EA is a detailed document prepared to determine if a proposed project could significantly impact the environment. If it’s determined during analysis that a project could significantly impact a resource, an environmental impact statement (EIS) is prepared.
A FONSI is a document prepared to record a decision made based on the analysis in an EA that, if implemented, would not significantly impact the environment.
An EIS is a detailed document prepared when a proposed project has the potential to significantly impact the environment.
A ROD is a document prepared to confirm a decision based on an EIS. It includes a statement of the decision made, a detailed rationale for the decision, and the mitigations that would be implemented as part of the proposed project.
Current Projects
Northeast Entrance Road Reconstruction EAPublic comment period: TBD Planning ProcessIn October 2024, the NPS began the environmental compliance process by soliciting public comment on the project proposal. The draft EA and road design is currently ongoing. More information about the Northeast Entrance Road Reconstruction project can be found on the NPS PEPC website. Recently Completed ProjectsThis project includes the construction of a new permanent North Entrance Road due to damage caused by a 500-year flood event in June 2022. The new road will be more resilient to floods and other natural hazards and restore long-term access to and from the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. The NPS signed a FONSI in 2026 for this EA. View all project documents on the NPS PEPC website and view photos of this project on our Flickr.
This updated plan responds to new scientific information, changing circumstances, and recent litigation involving bison management in Yellowstone and sets conditions for supporting partners’ efforts outside the park.
The NPS announced the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for this EIS in July 2024. View all project documents on the NPS PEPC website and learn more about bison management in Yellowstone.
This project includes the installation of 187 miles of buried fiber optic cable in previously disturbed areas along park roads to improve telecommunications systems in the developed areas of Yellowstone. The park’s existing microwave radio system is highly unreliable and does not support the park’s needs for emergency communications, operations, and other forms of communications.
The NPS signed a FONSI in 2021 for this EA. View all project documents on the NPS PEPC website.
This project includes replacing the 1963 Yellowstone River Bridge near Tower Junction and modernizing 3.5 miles of roadway, pullouts, and ancillary facilities. Replacing the Yellowstone River Bridge will help maintain safe visitor access from the park’s Northeast Entrance, as the bridge is on the only road corridor in the park open year-round and plowed during winter seasons.
The NPS signed a FONSI in 2020 for this EA. View all project documents on the NPS PEPC website and view photos of this project on our Flickr.
This project includes replacing the structurally deficient Lewis River Bridge, located along the heavily used South Entrance Road. Parking and pedestrian areas located north and south of the existing bridge will be redesigned and reconstructed as well.
The NPS signed a FONSI in 2018 for this EA. View all project documents on the NPS PEPC website and view photos of this project on our Flickr. Planning ArchivesAn archive of all completed and ongoing planning projects in Yellowstone and other national parks can be found on the NPS PEPC website.More Information
NPS PEPC WebsiteView a variety of planning projects in Yellowstone and other national parks on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) site. 
Laws & PoliciesLearn about the laws and policies that guide the National Park Service in protecting and preserving Yellowstone. 
ManagementLearn about the current natural and cultural resource issues that Yellowstone is managing for this and future generations. 
Strategic PrioritiesLearn about the five major priorities set by park managers in 2019, each critical to the success of Yellowstone. Planning & Environmental Compliance News |
Last updated: October 1, 2026