How visitor-friendly is the Old Faithful area at Yellowstone National Park. The National Park Service is asking that question as it moves forward to develop a long-range plan to the area that has risen up around the iconic geyser.

Unlike most parks that develop "general management plans" that address the entire park, at Yellowstone officials have chosen to divide the park up and focus on the areas one at a time. Last fall, for instance, the park began fine-tuning a long-term vision for the Tower-Roosevelt area on the western lip of the Lamar Valley. Now the Old Faithful area is being pulled into the planning process in response to what park officials say are "changing visitor and resource needs and conditions in the Old Faithful area."

"Recognized internationally, the Old Faithful area is one of the premier destinations in Yellowstone National Park and the National Park Service. Identifying ways to enhance the visitor experience and accommodate park operational needs, while protecting the wealth of resources in the area, will require significant evaluation and analysis," a park release stated.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Yellowstone officials will prepare an environmental assessment for the Old Faithful area over the next 16 months. The purpose of the EA is to provide a deeper understanding of resources through inventories, focus on resource protection, and address visitor connections to the resources, the park said, adding that the process will evaluate alternative proposals and their potential impacts to multiple resources, including natural, cultural, and scenic resources, as well as visitor use and experience, park operations, and public health and safety.

The first step is to solicit public suggestions and comments during what is known as the scoping period. Any interested individual, organization, or agency can provide thoughtful, relevant information or suggestions for consideration by the NPS before the draft environmental assessment is prepared and made available for public review and comment. Individuals, groups, and agencies have until June 7 to submit written comments on the purpose, need and objectives, and the issues and alternatives they would like considered in the new plan.

Open house meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 17, at Old Faithful at the Yurt near the temporary Visitor Center; Tuesday, May 18, in Gardiner, Montana, at the Yellowstone Association building on Park Street; and Wednesday, May 19, in West Yellowstone at the Chamber of Commerce Building.

Additional details on the proposal and an electronic form to submit comments on the internet can be found at the National Park Service’s Planning, Environmental and Public Comment website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov, or by contacting the Comprehensive Planning, and Design Office, Old Faithful Comprehensive Plan, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190.

Written comments may be submitted through the PEPC website, in person, or by mail. Comments will not be accepted over the phone, by fax, or e-mail. All public comments must be received or postmarked by midnight, June 7.