Public Notice: Clean Water Act Certification for the Grand Loop Road – Norris to Golden Gate, Phase 3 project in Yellowstone National Park
Summary
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a request from the National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park for a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 water quality certification (WQC) for the above project. Section 401(a)(1) of the CWA requires applicants for Federal permits and licenses that may result in any discharge into waters of the United States to obtain certification or waiver from the certifying authority where the discharge would originate.
The EPA acts as the certifying authority on lands of exclusive federal jurisdiction in relevant respects, in this case on lands within Yellowstone National Park. The EPA will act on this certification request by either: (1) granting certification; (2) granting certification with conditions; (3) denying certification; or (4) expressly waiving certification consistent with CWA Section 401 and the EPA’s implementing regulations at 40 CFR 121.
The proposed project would be covered under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) CWA Section 404 Nationwide Permit (NWP) 14. NWP 14 authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into non-tidal waters of the United States for the construction, expansion, modification, or improvement of linear transportation projects (e.g., roads, highways, railways, trails, driveways, airport runways, and taxiways) in waters of the United States.
Project Description
Applicant
Yellowstone National Park
Project Location
44.920883, -110.731622 to 44.93685, -110.721203 in Yellowstone National Park
Waterways
Glen Creek and unnamed wetlands in the Yellowstone River watershed
The proposed project will rehabilitate the roadway and drainage structures along Grand Loop Road within Yellowstone National Park (YNP) for approximately 1.2 miles south beginning at the Golden Gate viaduct south of Mammoth Hot Springs. The project will also reconfigure the Norris Geyser Basin parking lot, which is further south near the junction of Grand Loop Road and Norris Canyon Road.
The project will widen the roadway to a consistent 30-foot width to meet YNP roadway and safety standards. The roadbed will be stabilized and resurfaced for the entire length of the project corridor. Work includes culvert replacements for hydrologic improvement and added road width, one pedestrian boardwalk/bridge from Bunsen Peak parking lot to Rustic Falls, retaining wall repair, and the addition of fill along the roadway to add 4-foot shoulders. The project also includes reconstruction of the Bunsen Peak and Norris Geyser Basin parking lots to provide more parking and to add facilities, including, but not limited to, vault toilets. Sections of a waterline will be replaced at the north end of the project area.
Culvert work includes a reinforced concrete box culvert (8 feet by 4 feet) at the Swan Lake outlet conveying flow under Grand Loop Road towards Glen Creek. An existing series of corrugated metal pipe culverts conveying flow from Osprey Pond to Glen Creek will be replaced with a concrete box culvert (12 feet by 7 feet). Several minor culverts (48-inch or less diameter) along the project corridor will be replaced during road construction with equivalent diameter culverts.
The project will temporarily impact 0.131 acres of wetlands and 0.042 acres of other waters and permanently impact 0.122 acres of wetlands and 0.028 acres of other waters. Mitigation has been completed to compensate for the project’s anticipated impacts.
Public Comments
Submit comments as described in the “How to Comment” box at the righthand side of this webpage. The EPA must receive comments by 11:59 pm MST on March 8, 2025.
All comments received prior to the end of the comment period will be considered in the preparation of the Clean Water Action Section 401 Water Quality Certification and will be part of the administrative record. Jeffrey Ullman ([email protected] ; 303-312-6329) to request additional information, public notice updates, submit comments or provide additional information relevant to this certification.
At this time there is no opportunity to review the submitted material and documents in person at an EPA office. These documents are only available electronically and can be provided upon request.
Notice of any extension of the comment period will be published on this page and sent to those who have requested updates.
Public Hearings
Any person may request, in writing within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. If the Administrator, in his or her discretion, determines that a public hearing is appropriate or necessary, the EPA will schedule a public hearing. You may request a public hearing using the information in the “How to Comment” box on the righthand side of this webpage.
Project Applicant
Yellowstone National Park
Cameron H. Sholly, Superintendent
(307) 344-2002
[email protected]
Authorized Agent
Melissa Hogan, Environmental Specialist
Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD)
[email protected]