82 FR 15685 - White River National Forest; Eagle County; Colorado; Golden Peak Improvements Project
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 60 (March 30, 2017)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 60 (March 30, 2017)
| Page Range | 15685-15686 | |
| FR Document | 2017-06310 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 60 (Thursday, March 30, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 15685-15686] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-06310] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices [[Page 15685]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service White River National Forest; Eagle County; Colorado; Golden Peak Improvements Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Vail Ski Resort (Vail) has submitted a proposal to the White River National Forest (WRNF) for improvements to ski/snowboard racing facilities within its Forest Service-administered Special User Permit (SUP) area. The WRNF has accepted this proposal, and is initiating a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to document and disclose potential impacts. The Proposed Action includes: Developing 42 acres of new terrain with associated snowmaking; installing one lift, two lift operation shelters, one restroom facility, snowmaking infrastructure, multiple small race event buildings, one equipment storage facility, one fuel storage facility, and one maintenance building; and constructing one access road and multiple drainage management structures. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by May 1, 2017. The draft environmental impact statement is expected October 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected April 2018. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor, c/o Max Forgensi, Mountain Sports/Special Uses Administrator, White River National Forest, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, CO 81645. Comments may also be sent via FAX (970) 827-9343. Electronic comments including attachments can be submitted to: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=47937. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the proposed project can be found on the project Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47937, or obtained from: Max Forgensi, Mountain Sports/Special Uses Administrator, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District. Mr. Forgensi can be reached by phone at (970) 827-5157 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 and Need for Action Golden Peak is the primary ski/snowboard racing and training venue for Vail and the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV), and provides a world-class venue for local athletes and international events. As local, regional, national, and international groups continue to seek areas devoted specifically to ski/snowboard racing and training, providing a contained venue with adequate facilities to serve high- caliber events is needed. Currently, the limited training and racing space on Golden Peak is unable to accommodate all users, and many activities must be held at other locations on the mountain, resulting in a disruption to the public's skiing experience. There is a need for:Developed racing and training terrain at Vail that meets international racing standards for women's Downhill and men's Super G courses, a moguls course, and skier cross course to adequately meet demand. Adequate separation between ski/snowboard racing and training terrain and terrain used by the general public at Vail to improve the quality of both the training venue and the guest experience. Proposed Action The Proposed Action includes the following elements: Lift and Terrain--construction of one lift (either surface or aerial) and approximately 42 acres of new ski trails for women's Downhill and men's Super G courses, moguls course and skier cross course Facilities--construction of lift operating buildings, race start buildings, an equipment storage building, a fuel storage facility, and a maintenance building Snowmaking and Infrastructure--construction of infrastructure to support snowmaking on new ski trails Construction Maintenance and Access--access road for construction of new lift and ski trails Clearing, Grading and Surface Smoothing--vegetation removal and surface smoothing/grading for new ski trails and drainage management Responsible Official The Responsible Official is the WRNF Forest Supervisor. Nature of Decision To Be Made Given the purpose and need, the Responsible Official will review the proposed action, the other alternatives, and the environmental consequences in order to decide the following: Whether to approve, approve with modifications, or deny the application for additional ski area improvements and associated activities. Whether to prescribe conditions needed for the protection of the environment on NFS lands. 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. One public open house regarding this proposal will be held on April 6, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Forest Service Holy Cross Office, 24747 US Highway 24, Minturn, Colorado 81645. Representatives from the WRNF and Vail Resort will be present to answer questions and provide additional information on this project. To be most helpful, comments should be specific to the project area and should identify resources or effects that should be considered by the Forest Service. Submitting timely, specific written comments during this scoping period or any other official comment period establishes standing for filing objections under 36 CFR parts 218 A and B. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in [[Page 15686]] 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. Dated: March 24, 2017. Glenn P. Casamassa, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2017-06310 Filed 3-29-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
![15686 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices
such manner that they are useful to the details is posted on the forest Web site piling, pile burning, jackpot burning
agency’s preparation of the (https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/ and chopping).
environmental impact statement. landmanagement/ projects). In addition, Several different types of road work
Therefore, comments should be a copy of the Caribou RFP is available are also proposed. The road work is
provided prior to the close of the on the forest Web site (https:// proposed to meet transportation system
comment period and should clearly www.fs.usda.gov/main/ctnf/ needs for timber removal, resource
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and landmanagement/planning). needs, and public safety. It is proposed
contentions. Individuals who use to reconstruct and improve the
Comments received in response to telecommunication devices for the deaf condition of approximately 5.1 miles of
this solicitation, including names and (TDD) may call the Federal Information roads within the project area. This
addresses of those who comment, will Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 would include activities such as blading
be part of the public record for this between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern and shaping the road bed, spot
proposed action. Comments submitted Time, Monday through Friday. graveling, culvert replacements, and
anonymously will be accepted and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: other minor repairs. Approximately, 2.3
considered, however. miles of road has been identified as
Purpose and Need for Action
Dated: March 24, 2017. needing to be relocated to address
The purpose of the project proposal is resource concerns. These roads will be
Glenn P. Casamassa, to improve the overall composition, located in the same general area, but
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest health and resilience of the forest within large portions will be moved to a new
System. the project area, utilize and improve foot print. Additionally, it is proposed
[FR Doc. 2017–06310 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am] timber resources, and improve the to construct Road 574 in a more
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P Forest transportation system. sustainable location (1.6 miles new
The project proposal is needed construction), obliterate the previous
because a fire regime condition class location along with several other short
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE assessment of the forested landscape segments of road (2.1 miles), and close
indicated that the landscape qualifies as 0.3 miles. Development of a gravel pit
Forest Service Condition Class 2. This means that the within the project area is also be
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, vegetation composition, structure and considered.
fuels have moderate departure from the
Idaho; John Wood Forest Management Possible Alternatives
natural regime and predispose the
Project
system to risk of loss of key ecosystem The Forest Service would develop
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. components. Also, the project area is alternatives to the proposed action
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an within a Caribou RFP 5.2 prescription based on internal and public scoping
environmental impact statement. area. The emphasis in this prescription comments and analyze any viable
area is on scheduled wood-fiber alternatives in a draft environmental
SUMMARY: The Soda Springs Ranger production, timber growth and yield, impact statement.
District proposes to conduct forest while maintaining or restoring forested
vegetation management activities and ecosystems (RFP at 4–71). This Responsible Official
road work in a 5,590-acre project area prescription area also sets the following Soda Springs District Ranger, Bryan
within the Wood Canyon and Johnson guidelines: [p]ractices to prevent or K. Fuell, is the responsible official.
Creek drainages located in the Caribou- control natural disturbances, such as
Targhee National Forest, approximately insects and disease losses and wildfire, Nature of Decision To Be Made
six miles east of Soda Springs, Idaho. are emphasized. (RFP at 4–72) and The decisions to be made include
The project area has a forest vegetation where aspen exists, it should be whether to implement the proposed
management emphasis designated in the maintained or enhanced as a action, as designed; whether there are
Caribou Revised Forest Plan (RFP) component through restoration other alternatives capable of satisfying
(2003). Overall, the landscape in which treatments (RFP at 4–72). Many of the the purpose and need; and whether any
the project area is located has been stands in the project area that were mitigation measures or monitoring is
identified as being outside of desired previously harvested are becoming required to implement the proposed
conditions outlined in the RFP with overly dense, which impacts growth and action or alternatives. These decisions
respect to forest structure and species yield and increases risk to forest pests would be made in the record of
composition. such as the western spruce budworm. decision, which would be issued
Finally, there is a need to address the following the publication of a final
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
poor condition and resource concerns of environmental impact statement and
of the analysis must be received by May
the existing transportation system completion of the Forest Service
1, 2017. The draft environmental impact
within the project area. objection process (36 CFR part 218,
statement is expected August 2017 and
subparts A and B).
the final environmental impact Proposed Action
statement is expected October 2017. A combination of vegetation Scoping Process
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to management activities would occur on This notice of intent initiates the
Soda Springs Ranger District, 410 East approximately 760 acres. More scoping process, which guides the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Hooper Avenue, Soda Springs, ID specifically, approximately 395 acres development of the environmental
83276. Comments may also be sent via are proposed for selection harvest, impact statement. At this time, no
email to comments-intermtn-caribou- which would require approximately 1.6 public meeting will be held. This
targhee-soda-springs@fs.fed.us or via miles of temporary road construction to decision may be reconsidered
facsimile to (208) 547–2235. facilitate the harvest. Additionally, depending on the outcome of scoping.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: approximately 365 acres are proposed In addition to this notice of intent, a
Wayne Beck, Project Leader, (208) 847– for non-harvest stand-tending legal notice will be published in the
8941. A public scoping letter with more treatments (pre-commercial thinning, Idaho State Journal, newspaper of
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Document Created: 2017-03-30 01:35:45
Document Modified: 2017-03-30 01:35:45
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. | |
| Dates | Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by May 1, 2017. The draft environmental impact statement is expected October 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected April 2018. | |
| Contact | Additional information related to the proposed project can be found on the project Web site: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47937, or obtained from: Max Forgensi, Mountain Sports/Special Uses Administrator, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District. Mr. Forgensi can be reached by phone at (970) 827-5157 or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 15685 |
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