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Washington, D.C. - The Wyoming delegation is seeking answers to several shifts in position about the potential closure of the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Closure plans will be clarified in a winter use plan expected to be released later this month by the National Park Service (NPS).

U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, John Barrasso and Representative Barbara Cubin, all R-Wyo., are concerned by comments made by NPS officials suggesting a possible shift in justification for the potential closure of the East Entrance. The comments were made following a recently released assessment that the entrance could be kept open safely. The delegation, in efforts to fight for the best interest of Wyoming residents, sent a letter to the Department of Interior, the NPS and Yellowstone National Park (YNP) officials.

“During all of our discussions, you have continually assured both us and the citizens of Park County that the potential decision to close the East Entrance of YNP would be based solely on the issue of employee safety.  Time and time again, we were told the decision to close the East Entrance would not be based on funding.  Therefore, we are troubled by the apparent back peddling of the NPS officials who recently suggested that funding will now play a key role in the determination of this issue,” the delegation wrote. “We are concerned that, by mentioning funding, the NPS is simply looking for another excuse to close the East Entrance.  Instead of looking for reasons to limit access to YNP, we encourage you to look for ways to keep access open.”

The Wyoming delegation has been active in every step of the public comment process in combination with meetings with NPS and YNP officials to continue emphasis on the delegation’s intent to keep the East Entrance open.