81 FR 58909 - Inyo, Plumas, and Stanislaus National Forests; Mono, Inyo, Plumas, and Tuolumne Counties, California; Mammoth Base Land Exchange

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 166 (August 26, 2016)

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Inyo, Plumas, and Stanislaus National Forests intend to prepare and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate a proposed land exchange pursuant to section 206 of FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1716, and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The proposed exchange includes the conveyance of approximately 1,317.5 acres of a non-Federal land owned by Mammoth Main Lodge Redevelopment LLC (MMLR) to the United States in exchange for 30.6 acres of Federal land in the Inyo National Forest. The non-Federal parcels are located in Mono, Inyo, Plumas and Tuolumne Counties. The Federal parcels are located in Mono County.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58909-58910]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20383]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Inyo, Plumas, and Stanislaus National Forests; Mono, Inyo, 
Plumas, and Tuolumne Counties, California; Mammoth Base Land Exchange

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Inyo, Plumas, and Stanislaus National 
Forests intend to prepare and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
evaluate a proposed land exchange pursuant to section 206 of FLPMA, 43 
U.S.C. 1716, and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the 
scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The 
proposed exchange includes the conveyance of approximately 1,317.5 
acres of a non-Federal land owned by Mammoth Main Lodge Redevelopment 
LLC (MMLR) to the United States in exchange for 30.6 acres of Federal 
land in the Inyo National Forest. The non-Federal parcels are located 
in Mono, Inyo, Plumas and Tuolumne Counties. The Federal parcels are 
located in Mono County.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
45 days from date of publication in the Federal Register. A public open 
house regarding this proposal will be held on September 8, 2016 (see 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further information on the 
open house).

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Edward Armenta, Forest Supervisor, 
c/o Janelle Walker, Winter Sports Specialist, Inyo National Forest, PO 
Box 148, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546, FAX; (760) 924-5537 or by email to: 
[email protected] (please include ``Mammoth Base 
Land Exchange EIS'' in the subject line). Comments may also be 
submitted on the project Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.html?project=30428.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
proposed project can be obtained from the project Web site, http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.html?project=30428, or by contacting 
Janelle Walker, Winter Sports Specialist, Inyo National Forest. Ms. 
Walker can be reached by phone at (760) 924-5523 or by email at 
[email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose of the Land Exchange

    (1) To acquire environmentally sensitive lands and an 
administrative site to better meet resource and other management goals 
of the National Forests as outlined in the respective Land and Resource 
Management Plans of the National Forests involved in this exchange; and
    (2) To exchange developed lands in the National Forest that 
encumber adequate management by the United States Forest Service and 
would better serve the community and economic needs of the Town of 
Mammoth Lakes and Mono County in private ownership.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action is to complete a land exchange pursuant to 
section 206 of FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1716. Under the Proposed Action, the 
United States would convey approximately 30.6 acres of NFS lands within 
the boundaries of the Inyo National Forest, and currently managed as 
part of a Ski Area Term Special Use Permit to MMLR. In exchange, MMLR 
would convey to the United States approximately 1,317.5 acres of 
privately owned lands (``inholdings'') located within the boundaries of 
the Inyo, Plumas and Stanislaus National Forests and one small parcel 
(approximately 1.66 acres) in Inyo County, California that is outside 
the boundaries of the Inyo National Forest.

Federal Parcels

    Under the Proposed Action, two Federal parcels located within the 
municipal boundary limits of the Town of Mammoth Lakes--totaling 
approximately 30.6 acres--would be transferred to MMLR. The Federal 
parcels include an intensely developed tract containing structures that 
provide lodging and visitor services facilities at the main base area 
for the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, and an adjacent tract containing 
sewage ponds that receive and treat sewage from various Mammoth 
Mountain Ski Area facilities. The Federal parcels are located adjacent 
to California State Highway 203, approximately four miles west of the 
town center of Mammoth Lakes.

[[Page 58910]]

Non-Federal Parcels
    Under the Proposed Action, 12 non-Federal parcels--totaling 
approximately 1,317.5 acres--would be transferred to the United States, 
to be managed by the United States Forest Service.
    Six of the non-Federal parcels are located inside the boundaries of 
the Inyo National Forest. These parcels include the West Mono Lake 
Parcel (located inside the boundaries of the Congressionally designated 
Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area near the west shore of Mono 
Lake), the Lundy Canyon Parcel (patented mining claims located in or 
adjacent to the Hoover Wilderness northwest of Mono Lake), the Moran 
Springs Parcel (located in the Benton Range), Dexter Canyon Parcel (a 
large inholding southeast of Mono Lake), Madden Parcel (adjacent to 
Lake Mary Road in the Town of Mammoth Lakes), and the Pine Creek Parcel 
(located at the trailhead of the Pine Canyon Trail).
    The non-Federal parcel located outside the boundaries of the Inyo 
National Forest is located in Inyo County. The Los Angeles Department 
of Water and Power (DWP)-Bishop Parcel is located in the City of 
Bishop, California, adjacent to the White Mountain Ranger District 
Office of the Inyo National Forest.
    One of the non-Federal parcels (Taylor Lake Parcel) is located 
inside the boundaries of the Plumas National Forest at Taylor Lake east 
of Greenville, California.
    Four of the non-Federal parcels are located inside the boundaries 
of the Stanislaus National Forest in the Clavey River watershed near 
Yosemite National Park.
    Additional information and maps of this proposal can be found on 
the project Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.html?project=30428

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official is Edward Armenta, Forest Supervisor for 
the Inyo National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether to authorize the Proposed Action 
as described above, modify the Proposed Action to address issues raised 
in public scoping, or to take no action at this time.

Permits or Licenses Required

    Forest Service Special Use Permit

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest 
Service is soliciting comments from Federal, State and local agencies 
and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or 
affected by implementation of the proposed projects. A public meeting 
will be held on September 8, 2016 to share information and answer 
questions about the project. The meeting will be held in the town of 
Mammoth Lakes at the Council Chambers (Suite Z--437 Old Mammoth Road) 
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    This project will be subject to 36 CFR 254.8 Notice of Exchange 
Proposal. Individuals and entities who have submitted timely, specific 
written comments regarding a proposed project or activity during public 
comment periods, including this 45-day public scoping period, may file 
an objection (36 CFR 218.5(a)). Written comments received, including 
the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part 
of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public 
inspection (36 CFR 218.25(b)(2)). For purposes of meeting the 36 CFR 
218.5 eligibility requirements, the public scoping period will end 45 
days from the date the Notice of Exchange Proposal is published in the 
Federal Register.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however those who only submit anonymous 
comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 
36 CFR 215.

    Dated: August 18, 2016.
Edward E. Armenta,
Forest Supervisor, Inyo National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2016-20383 Filed 8-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P