Public Notice: Clean Water Act Certification for the Firehole River Bridges Preservation 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) 3. NWP 3 authorizes the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States for the repair, rehabilitation or replacement of any previously authorized, currently serviceable structure or fill in waters of the United States under section 404 of the CWA and section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.
Project Description
Applicant
Yellowstone National Park
Project Location
44.516137, -110.832795 (Firehole River Bridge at Midway Geyser) and 44.453983, -110.819438 (Firehole River Bridge #3) in Yellowstone National Park
Waterways
Firehole River
The proposed project includes various rehabilitation and maintenance activities to be performed on two bridges that cross the Firehole River. The Firehole River Bridge at Midway Geyser primarily serves as a pedestrian bridge that provides access to Fairy Falls Trail from the parking lot immediately off Grand Loop Road across from Till Geyser. Firehole River Bridge #3 is part of Grand Loop Road located 1.5 road miles southwest of the main entrance to Old Faithful visitor area.
Construction at Firehole River Bridge at Midway Geyser will require temporary dewatering around the northern bridge abutment to fill voids with concrete grout. To further protect the bridge, a ditch will be constructed along the southeast edge of Fairy Falls Trail to direct overland flow from a geothermal spring away from the bridge and trail. A log curb will be installed along the northwest edge of the trail to direct overland flow to the Firehole River. Equipment access will require crossing the river. This component of the project will temporarily impact 0.005 acres and permanently impact 0.0001 acres of stream. No wetlands will be impacted.
At Firehole River Bridge #3, riprap will be placed at the east side of the west pier above and below the ordinary high water mark of the Firehole River. Dewatering and equipment access across the river will be required. This component of the project will temporarily impact 0.11 acres and permanently impact 0.005 acres of stream. No wetlands will be impacted.
Public Comments
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 June 21, 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. Jeffrey Ullman (R8CWA401@epa.gov ; 303-312-6329) to request additional information, public notice updates, submit comments or provide additional information relevant to this certification.
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.
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.
Project Applicant
Yellowstone National Park
Bob Kammel (bob_kammel@nps.gov)
Authorized Agent
Ryan Hammons (ryan.hammons@hdrinc.com)
HDR Engineering, Inc.