Public Notice: Clean Water Act Certification for the Rescue Creek Bridge Replacement 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

The proposed project is to construct a replacement Rescue Creek Trail pedestrian bridge that provides access across the Gardner River. The project includes the removal of the original bridge foundation that was washed away during a flood event in 2022. The new bridge will be located approximately 100 feet upstream of the previous bridge location.

The replacement design will follow current engineering standards, which includes structural changes in low chord, foundation type and location, and width. The new bridge will span the river with no piers in the channel, employing vertical abutments and shallow foundations set back to reduce erosion and stability issues. Earthwork cuts and fills will connect the existing terrain to the bridge ends. Riprap installation at the west abutment will protect the bank from avulsion hazards. The old foundation (two abutments and one pier) will be removed and backfilled with conserved streambed material to match the existing river grade.   

The project will temporarily impact 0.03 acres and permanently impact 0.0009 acres of stream. No wetlands will be impacted.

Applicant

Yellowstone National Park

Waterways

Gardner River

Location

44.958278, -110.679157 in Yellowstone National Park

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.

Public Comment

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 April 10, 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.

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. Notification and details of any public comment period extension will be posted at the public comment web page address only. Interested parties on our email list will also be notified by email.  

Project Applicant

Cameron H. Sholly, Superintendent ([email protected])
Yellowstone National Park
(307) 344-2002

Authorized Agent 

Melissa Hogan, Environmental Specialist ([email protected])
Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD)