Sustainability

As the world's first national park, Yellowstone has been at the forefront of environmental preservation for more than 145 years. Our mission compels us to continue that legacy of environmental stewardship in our own operations as well as in the visitor services we provide.

NPS/Frank

Support and direction for environmental stewardship in Yellowstone is clearly embedded in both the National Park Service mission and Yellowstone’s significance. Yellowstone’s sustainability program extends this commitment to conservation and protection to the environmental impact of our own operations.

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 as the world's first National Park, and now, as a biosphere reserve and World Heritage Site, it remains an example for excellence in environmental management. Yellowstone strives to demonstrate exemplary leadership for sustainability and climate change mitigation by managing operations and adapting facilities in a sustainable manner to preserve our resources for this and future generations.

Commitment to sustainability is made more important with a changing climate and increasing impacts to natural resources, locally and globally. Federal legislation requires agencies to protect resources through sustainable operations and facility adaptation. The National Park Service Green Parks Plan provides further direction for environmental stewardship, and has led to a firm commitment and support for Yellowstone’s continued leadership in environmental stewardship.

 

Legislative Guidance

• National Park Service Green Parks Plan
• Executive Order (EO) 13693. 2015. Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade.
• Public Law 110-140. 2007. Energy Independence and Security Act.
• Energy Policy Act of 2005 

 

Yellowstone Environmental Coordinating Committee (YECC)

Yellowstone strives to make sustainability an essential element in management and operational decisions. NPS staff works closely with our concessioners and non-profit partners through the Yellowstone Environmental Coordinating Committee (YECC) to ensure a comprehensive approach to sustainability.

• Yellowstone Green Team, National Park Service
• Our Softer Footprint, Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Xanterra)
• Green Path, Yellowstone General Stores (Delaware North)
• Yellowstone Forever
• Medcor
• Yellowstone Park Service Stations (YPSS)

More in-depth reporting on sustainable practices by concessioners can be found on their respective websites.

 

Sustainability Report 2018

The National Park Service (NPS) mission articulates a clear ethic for environmental stewardship. Yellowstone’s sustainability program extends this commitment to conservation and protection to the environmental impact of our own operations.

The Yellowstone Environmental Coordinating Committee (YECC) has embraced the goals of the NPS Green Parks Plan and works collaboratively to ensure a comprehensive approach to sustainability in Yellowstone. This team consists of representatives from the National Park Service, Xanterra, Delaware North, Medcor, Yellowstone Park Service Stations and Yellowstone Forever. We strive to use the most sustainable practices and reduce our own footprint as we serve the visiting public and manage Yellowstone for future generations.

This report is compiled by the YECC to present an annual overview of the sustainability program and share data for the park’s energy, fuel, and water use and waste diversion.

 

Goals and Priorities

Goals for this report

• Communicate achievements and challenges
• Track progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, and waste production
• See opportunities to continually improve efforts

2019 priorities based on this report

• Re-engage with park managers on goals and strategies for sustainability
• Identify where and why energy, water, and waste are all increasing

Thinking ahead to 2020

• Develop a park strategy to work toward sustainability goals

 

2018 Summary

Total numbers and comparisons in the table represent facilities and operations inside Yellowstone National Park for the National Park Service (NPS), Xanterra, and Delaware North combined.

Category	Basline Year	Resource (Unit)	Baseline Year Total	2018 Total	% Change from Baseline
Fleet Fuel	2003	Gasoline (Gallons)	333,401	347,736	+4%
		Diesel (Gallons)	171,834	293,355	+70.7%
Energy	2003	Electricity (kWh)	26,768,024	32,025,730	+19.6%
		Fuel Oil (Gallons)	704,316	476,751	-32.3%
		Propane (Gallons)	631,666	1,147,457	+81.7%
Water	2007	Potable Water (Gallons)	271,213,835	285,459,593	+5.3%
Waste	--	Municipal (% diverted, by weight)	--	51.6%	--
		Construction (% diverted, by weight)	--	--	--

For details on each category, visit the Water Conservation, Energy Conservation, Fleet and Transportation, and Recycling and Waste Diversion pages.