[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 63024-63025] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-30066] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Keystone Resort, Jones Gulch Development; White River National Forest, Summit County, Colorado
Agency
Forest Service, USDA.
Action
Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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Summary
The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects from the development of the Jones Gulch ski pod at Keystone Resort. Development will be confined to Keystone Resort's existing Special Use Permit boundary. The proposed actions to construct lifts, trails, snowmaking, and associated service roads are being considered together because they represent either connected or cumulative actions as defined by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.25). The Forest Service is evaluating a proposal, submitted by Keystone Resort, which is consistent with forest management direction for ski areas. The purposes of the project are to address the following needs: (1) To improve skier/snowboarder distribution and reduce trail densities on the front side of Keystone Mountain by providing additional intermediate and advanced terrain on the front side of Keystone Mountain; (2) to improve ingress and egress and reduce out-of- base congestion by adding another portal at
Jones Gulch; (3) to meet existing and anticipated skier demand through development of infrastructure consistent with advances in equipment, lift technology, and consumer preference; (4) to address some existing environmental concerns associated with historic activities and existing development. The EIS will tier to the White River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and Final EIS of September 20, 1984, which provides overall guidance for ski area management of the area. All activities associated with the proposal will be designed to maintain high quality resource objectives.
Dates
Written comments and suggestions should be postmarked or received by the Dillon Ranger District no later than 30 days after the publication of this notice. Send comments to Michael Liu, Attn: Keystone, Dillon Ranger District, P.O. Box 620, Silverthorne, Colorado, 80498, fax (970) 468-7735.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michael Liu, Special Projects Coordinator, Dillon Ranger District, phone (970) 262-3440.
Supplementary Information
The proposed action includes construction of facilities entirely within Keystone Resort's Special Use Permit area. These facilities have been conceptually approved through previous National Environmental Policy Act analysis of the Resort's Master Development Plan (MDP). Specific elements of the proposed action include: Approximately 125 acres of trail construction, approximately 95 acres of additional snowmaking coverage, construction of three chair-lifts and one surface-lift, and construction of required service roads. The project area is located on National Forest System lands within sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, Township 5 South, Range 76 West of the 6th P.M., all within Summit County, Colorado. Keystone Resort is located approximately 70 miles west of Denver, Colorado. These improvements are consistent with Forest Plan and Regional Guide direction, and are considered necessary in light of current resort deficiencies, increased visitation experienced over the past decade, and projected future visitation increases. The proposed analysis will provide additional site-specific detail for portions of the existing MDP to accommodate changing socio-economic and environmental considerations, and may modify previous approvals shown in the MDP to avoid wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified forest fragmentation and effects to: Wildlife, wetlands, water quality, mountain hydrology, geological stability, and the relationship of the project to future development of adjacent real estate. Additional issues will be identified during the scoping process.
Public Involvement and Scoping
Analysis of this proposal was originally planned under an Environmental Assessment (EA). After further study and additional information from resource specialists, the Forest Service has decided to prepare an EIS. Public scoping was conducted for the EA during October and November of 1997 through newspaper articles, letters to interested parties and two open houses. Comments previously submitted as part of the EA scoping process will be included in the documentation for the EIS and will be used to focus analysis and develop alternatives. Interested groups and individuals that have previously commented as part of the EA scoping process will be retained on the project mailing list. The project proposal has been modified since originally submitted by Keystone Resort. The proposed Ski Tip Return Trail has been removed and one chairlift has been added to the proposal. This environmental analysis and decision making process will enable additional interested and affected people to participate and contribute to the final decision. The Forest Service will seek information, comments, and assistance identifying issues from Federal, State, local agencies, federally recognized Native American tribes, and other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by the proposal. Completion of the draft EIS is anticipated during the late winter or spring of 1999. The final EIS should be completed some time during the late summer or fall of 1999. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 90 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the ``Notice of Availability'' in the Federal Register.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official for this project is Martha Ketelle, Forest Supervisor for the White River National Forest. The Responsible Official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the Record of Decision issued concurrently with the release of the final EIS. That decision will be subject to appeal under 36 CFR 215.
Dated: November 3, 1998. Martha Ketelle, Forest Supervisor, White River National Forest. [FR Doc. 98-30066 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M