Public Comment Sought On Lamar Buffalo Ranch Sustainable Energy Plan

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on a plan to improve energy efficiency and renewable energy production systems at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, which is a National Register Historic District.

Sustainable energy infrastructure improvements at the ranch are being proposed under the plan’s preferred alternative to conserve energy and water, reduce waste, replace and expand the existing photovoltaic (solar energy) system including storage batteries and related control equipment, and to install a new micro hydro turbine. Equipment would also be installed on several buildings to monitor energy use and an administrative building would be expanded. The project will also provide for the ability to explore additional renewable energy technologies in the future.

The Lamar Buffalo Ranch is located approximately 10 miles from the nearest electric service and the existing solar energy system was installed in 1996. Many of the components are at the end of their useful life and buildings are not energy efficient. This project would increase the renewable energy available for use at the ranch and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the current fossil fuel-powered generator currently in operation. The project would improve off-grid environmental stewardship and education in Yellowstone National Park.

The NPS invites public comment and engagement on the proposed plan pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The EA can be found online at the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/LamarEA. A hard copy can also be requested by calling (307) 344-7147, or by writing to Compliance Office, Attention: Lamar Buffalo Ranch Sustainable Energy EA, National Park Service, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190.

Respondents are encouraged to submit their comments on the PEPC Web site, but they may also be mailed to the address above or hand-delivered during normal business hours to the mailroom in the park's Administration Building in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming.
Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any manner other than those specified above. Bulk comments submitted in any format on behalf of others will not be accepted. Comments must be received by midnight MDT, August 15, 2014. Comments will be evaluated and a decision on whether to implement the plan will be made by the Regional Director of the Intermountain Region of the NPS.