There are still opportunities for members of the public to learn about a proposed new plan for winter use in Yellowstone National Park.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS), which was released in early May, remains open for public review and comment through July 18, 2011. It analyzes a variety of approaches to the long term management of oversnow vehicles in the world’s first national park.

Four public meetings have been held in communities surrounding the park, and two more are scheduled this week in Washington, DC and in the Denver area.

In order to offer a similar opportunity to those unable to attend any of the public meetings, the National Park Service is also offering two electronic meetings over the internet using your own computer.

The webinars are scheduled for Tuesday, June 21, noon to 2 p.m. MDT, and Wednesday, June 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. MDT. Those participating in the webinars will be provided an overview of the plan, a chance to participate in a short question and answer period, and an opportunity to provide oral comments for the record.

Details on how to participate in the webinars can be found on the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov. After selecting Yellowstone National Park from the home page, look for “Winter Use Plan/EIS” under “Current Projects,” and click on the link for “Meeting Notices.”

The Denver area public meeting will be held Tuesday, June 21, at the Sheraton on Union, 360 Union Boulevard, in Lakewood, Colorado. The final public meeting is set for Thursday, June 23, in the DAR President General’s Assembly Room, 1776 D Street NW, in Washington, DC.

Both meetings will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and will include a presentation on the draft winter-use plan, opportunities to meet informally with National Park Service staff, and a chance to give formal public comment.

More information on winter use in Yellowstone and ways to comment on the Draft EIS is available at http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/winteruse.htm, and http://parkplanning.nps.gov.