Some issues that come up in the National Park System are no brainers, and the proposal in Yellowstone National Park to replace a section of sewer line nearing a quarter-century in service is one.

Regulations require the park staff to seek public comment on the matter, however, and you have until September 4 to raise any issues. Still, when you consider this sewer line is failing in places, objections should be few and far between.

"The current sewer system for the Old Faithful Inn was constructed in 1940 and many sections of the system are at the end of their serviceable life. The force main (pumped sewage) line that services most of the Old Faithful Inn, the General Store and the Lower Gas Station adjacent to the Inn, has failed numerous times in the recent past," the park notes in its request for public comments. "This project proposes to abandon and replace this 1,000-foot failing section of sewer line with a new 1,050-foot line. Implementation of the project is proposed to occur in late September 2014."

The park is considering issuing the National Park Service Director’s Order 12 Categorical Exclusion (CE) for “replacement in kind of minor structures and facilities with little or no change in location, capacity or appearance.” This CE is pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.

This short comment period is intended to allow the public the opportunity to provide comments and concerns regarding the project and to help guide park managers in planning for future replacement of failing infrastructure at Old Faithful.  

More information and a form to submit comments online can be found at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/OFSewerCE.  Comments may also be hand-delivered during normal business hours to the mailroom in the park’s Administration Building in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, or mailed to Compliance Office, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY, 82190. 

Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or in any other way than those specified above. All comments must be received by midnight MDT, September 4, 2014.