Park Service denies waffling on future of Sylvan Pass

CODY, Wyo. (AP) The regional director of the National Park Service denies his agency is flip-flopping, over reasons for possibly closing the eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park during the winter.

Last week, Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal (FREE'-den-thawl), and all three members of Wyoming's congressional delegation, wrote scathing letters to the Park Service. They questioned the agency's rationale for possibly closing the road over Sylvan Pass.

They claimed the Park Service said it wanted to close the road because of concerns about avalanches but now says the road should be closed because of the cost of keeping it open.

Mike Snyder is regional director of the Park Service. He says avalanche risk has always been the major concern. But Snyder says, if the cost of managing avalanches is rising sharply, that must also be considered.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-17-07 1113CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list