Lolo National Forest; Montana; Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort Expansion, 2178-2179 [06-226]

Download as PDF 2178 Notices Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 9 Friday, January 13, 2006 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. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Lolo National Forest; Montana; Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort Expansion Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, Lolo National Forest will prepare an Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) through a third-party contractor to evaluate and disclose the environmental consequences of the proposed expansion of the Montana Snowbowl Ski Area (MSB) in Missoula County, Montana. The proposed expansion would increase the area of ski runs from approximately 240 to 406 acres, all of which would be on the National Forest. New infrastructure would include five lifts and three skier services buildings totaling about 7,000 square feet. The new permit would also allow summer mountain biking and hiking on the new expansion area of TV Mountain. The expansion may require a Forest Plan amendment since it would include portions of Management Areas 16 and 25 which do not specifically include developed recreation. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received by February 15, 2006. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available for public review in October 2006 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in February 2007. ADDRESSES: Submit written or oral comments to Stephanie Lauer, PBS&J, 1120 Cedar Street, Missoula, MT 59802, phone (406) 721–0354. You may also submit comments via e-mail— slauer@pbsj.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 15:41 Jan 12, 2006 Missoula Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort has operated on Lolo NF lands under a SUP since 1961. Their present SUP was granted under the authority of the National Forest Ski Area Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b). The Act authorizes the U.S. Forest Service to issue team ski area permits ‘‘for the use and occupancy of suitable nordic and alpine skiing operations and purposes’’ (Section 3(b)). The Act also states that a permit shall encompass such acreage as the Forest Service ‘‘determines sufficient and appropriate to accommodate the permittee’s need for ski operations and appropriate ancillary facilities’’ (section 3(b)). Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort presently has a 40-year permit. The Lolo National Forest has received a proposed, revised Master Plan from Montana Snowbowl, Inc. The revised Master Plan was reviewed by the Lolo National Forest on December 6, 2004. The Lolo National Forest Plan is currently in the process of revision. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Forest Service VerDate Aug<31>2005 1. Don Stadler, East Zone NEPA Coordinator/IDT Leader at the Missoula Ranger District, Building 24A, Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59804 at (406) 329–3731; or via e-mail— dstadler@fs.fed.us. 2. Barry Dutton, Project Manager or Stephanie Lauer, Assistant Project Manager at PBS&J, 1120 Cedar Street, Missoula, MT 59802 at (406) 721–0354; or via e-mail—bdutton@pbsj.com or slauer@pbsj.com. Jkt 208001 Purpose and Need for Action The expansion is needed to continue safe, high quality recreation and provide the financial capabilities to continue to make improvements and upgrades to the facilities and operation of Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort. Proposed Action Montana Snowbowl, Inc. proposes to expand the Missoula Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort north of Missoula, Montana. The project would be implemented in 2007 and be completed over a ten-year period. The proposed action is located within and adjacent to the existing ski area, approximately 12 miles north of Missoula, Montana. The existing resort is mainly on the north and west slopes of Big Sky Mountain. The proposed expansion area is mainly on TV Mountain, adjacent to and immediately west of the existing resort. PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 TV Mountain is the site of the original ski area that operated during the 1950s and evolved into the present day MSB. The proposed expansion area is located in the upper end of the Butler Creek and La Valle Creek drainages. Butler Creek and LaValle Creek are tributaries to the Clark Fork River. No inventoried roadless areas would be affected by the proposed expansion. The current Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort SUP includes approximately 1,138 acres of Forest Service lands. The proposed action would increase the SUP areas by 1,088 acres, from 1,138 to approximately 2,226 acres. The resort also encompasses an additional 80 acres of private land owned by Montana Snowbowl, Inc. The existing resort and proposed expansion project are located on the Lolo National Forest, which is the lead agency for the project. The proposed expansion would increase the area of ski runs from approximately 240 to 406 acres, all of which would be on the National Forest. The proposed expansion takes advantage of existing openings wherever possible. Approximately 114 acres of new clearing would be required. New infrastructure would include five lifts and three skier services buildings totaling 7,000 square feet. The new permit would also allow summer mountain biking and hiking on the new expansion area of TV Mountain. The expansion may require a Forest Plan amendment since it would include portions of Management Areas 16 and25 which do not specifically include development recreation. The Lolo National Forest Plan is presently being revised. Responsible Official The responsible official for the Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort Expansion is Deborah L. R. Austin, Forest Supervision, Lolo National Forest. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Forest Supervisor of the Lolo National Forest will decide whether to grant a change to the existing Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort SUP to include an additional 1,088 acres and include provisions to clear additional ski runs, construct five new lifts, three new skier service buildings, and include summer mountain biking and hiking. E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices Scoping Process The federal Forest Service is the lead agency for preparing this EIS. The EIS will be prepared through a third-party contractor. The Forest Service will consult with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service when making this decision. The scoping process will include, at a minimum, one public meeting, scoping mailings, and public notices in newspapers of record. The responsible official will make a decision on this proposal after considering comments, responses, environmental consequences, applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision and rationale for the decision will be documented in a Record of Decision (ROD). Permits or Licenses Required A change to the Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort SUP would be required as part of the proposed action. hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Comment Requested This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent Environmental Review A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer’s position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inv. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the draft environmental impact statement VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:33 Jan 12, 2006 Jkt 208001 comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaning fully consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact statement. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21) Dated: January 3, 2006. Gary Garthwait, Acting Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 06–226 Filed 11–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Del Norte County Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Del Norte County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on February 7, 2006 in Crescent City, California. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the selection of Title II projects under Public Law 106–393, H.R. 2389, the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2000, also called the ‘‘Payments to States’’ Act. DATES: The meeting will be held on February 7, 2006 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Del Norte County Unified School District Board Room, 301 West Washington, Crescent City, California. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Chapman, Committee Coordinator, USDA, Six Rivers National Forest, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2179 95501. Phone: (707) 441–3549. E-mail: lchapman@fs.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RAC will discuss the next steps for the Coast to Crest and Coast to Caves Trailway as well as the process for requesting proposals for fiscal year 2007 projects. The meeting is open to the public. Public input opportunity will be provided and individuals will have the opportunity to address the committee at that time. Dated: January 9, 2006. Jeff Walter, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 06–314 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Notice of Request for New Information Collection Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) intent to request approval for designated official agencies to complete FGIS Form 921–2, Inspection Report— Insects in Grain in order to facilitate the transfer of information to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for phytosanitary certification. Currently, FGIS field offices, delegated States, and designated agencies inspect and certify grain for insects. FGIS field offices and delegated States provide insect information for export grain vessels to APHIS on FGIS–921–2 for APHIS issuance of a phytosanitary certificate. This request will enable official agencies to provide similar insect information for export grain shipped in trucks, railcars, and containers loaded at interior locations to APHIS. DATES: Comments must be submitted by March 14, 2006. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on this notice. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • E-Mail: Send comments via electronic mail to comments.gipsa@usda.gov. • Mail: Send hardcopy written comments to Tess Butler, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1647–S, Washington, DC 20250–3604. E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2178-2179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-226]


========================================================================
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. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / 
Notices

[[Page 2178]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Lolo National Forest; Montana; Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer 
Resort Expansion

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, 
notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, Lolo National Forest 
will prepare an Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) through a 
third-party contractor to evaluate and disclose the environmental 
consequences of the proposed expansion of the Montana Snowbowl Ski Area 
(MSB) in Missoula County, Montana. The proposed expansion would 
increase the area of ski runs from approximately 240 to 406 acres, all 
of which would be on the National Forest. New infrastructure would 
include five lifts and three skier services buildings totaling about 
7,000 square feet. The new permit would also allow summer mountain 
biking and hiking on the new expansion area of TV Mountain. The 
expansion may require a Forest Plan amendment since it would include 
portions of Management Areas 16 and 25 which do not specifically 
include developed recreation.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
by February 15, 2006. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected to be available for public review in October 2006 and the 
final environmental impact statement is expected in February 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit written or oral comments to Stephanie Lauer, PBS&J, 
1120 Cedar Street, Missoula, MT 59802, phone (406) 721-0354. You may 
also submit comments via e-mail_slauer@pbsj.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    1. Don Stadler, East Zone NEPA Coordinator/IDT Leader at the 
Missoula Ranger District, Building 24A, Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 
59804 at (406) 329-3731; or via e-mail_dstadler@fs.fed.us.
    2. Barry Dutton, Project Manager or Stephanie Lauer, Assistant 
Project Manager at PBS&J, 1120 Cedar Street, Missoula, MT 59802 at 
(406) 721-0354; or via e-mail_bdutton@pbsj.com or slauer@pbsj.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Missoula Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort has 
operated on Lolo NF lands under a SUP since 1961. Their present SUP was 
granted under the authority of the National Forest Ski Area Act of 1986 
(16 U.S.C. 497b). The Act authorizes the U.S. Forest Service to issue 
team ski area permits ``for the use and occupancy of suitable nordic 
and alpine skiing operations and purposes'' (Section 3(b)). The Act 
also states that a permit shall encompass such acreage as the Forest 
Service ``determines sufficient and appropriate to accommodate the 
permittee's need for ski operations and appropriate ancillary 
facilities'' (section 3(b)). Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort 
presently has a 40-year permit. The Lolo National Forest has received a 
proposed, revised Master Plan from Montana Snowbowl, Inc. The revised 
Master Plan was reviewed by the Lolo National Forest on December 6, 
2004. The Lolo National Forest Plan is currently in the process of 
revision.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The expansion is needed to continue safe, high quality recreation 
and provide the financial capabilities to continue to make improvements 
and upgrades to the facilities and operation of Montana Snowbowl Ski 
and Summer Resort.

Proposed Action

    Montana Snowbowl, Inc. proposes to expand the Missoula Snowbowl Ski 
and Summer Resort north of Missoula, Montana. The project would be 
implemented in 2007 and be completed over a ten-year period. The 
proposed action is located within and adjacent to the existing ski 
area, approximately 12 miles north of Missoula, Montana. The existing 
resort is mainly on the north and west slopes of Big Sky Mountain. The 
proposed expansion area is mainly on TV Mountain, adjacent to and 
immediately west of the existing resort. TV Mountain is the site of the 
original ski area that operated during the 1950s and evolved into the 
present day MSB. The proposed expansion area is located in the upper 
end of the Butler Creek and La Valle Creek drainages. Butler Creek and 
LaValle Creek are tributaries to the Clark Fork River. No inventoried 
roadless areas would be affected by the proposed expansion.
    The current Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort SUP includes 
approximately 1,138 acres of Forest Service lands. The proposed action 
would increase the SUP areas by 1,088 acres, from 1,138 to 
approximately 2,226 acres. The resort also encompasses an additional 80 
acres of private land owned by Montana Snowbowl, Inc. The existing 
resort and proposed expansion project are located on the Lolo National 
Forest, which is the lead agency for the project.
    The proposed expansion would increase the area of ski runs from 
approximately 240 to 406 acres, all of which would be on the National 
Forest. The proposed expansion takes advantage of existing openings 
wherever possible. Approximately 114 acres of new clearing would be 
required. New infrastructure would include five lifts and three skier 
services buildings totaling 7,000 square feet. The new permit would 
also allow summer mountain biking and hiking on the new expansion area 
of TV Mountain. The expansion may require a Forest Plan amendment since 
it would include portions of Management Areas 16 and25 which do not 
specifically include development recreation. The Lolo National Forest 
Plan is presently being revised.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer 
Resort Expansion is Deborah L. R. Austin, Forest Supervision, Lolo 
National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor of the Lolo National Forest will decide 
whether to grant a change to the existing Montana Snowbowl Ski and 
Summer Resort SUP to include an additional 1,088 acres and include 
provisions to clear additional ski runs, construct five new lifts, 
three new skier service buildings, and include summer mountain biking 
and hiking.

[[Page 2179]]

Scoping Process

    The federal Forest Service is the lead agency for preparing this 
EIS. The EIS will be prepared through a third-party contractor. The 
Forest Service will consult with the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service when making this decision. The scoping process will include, at 
a minimum, one public meeting, scoping mailings, and public notices in 
newspapers of record. The responsible official will make a decision on 
this proposal after considering comments, responses, environmental 
consequences, applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision 
and rationale for the decision will be documented in a Record of 
Decision (ROD).

Permits or Licenses Required

    A change to the Montana Snowbowl Ski and Summer Resort SUP would be 
required as part of the proposed action.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for 
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement 
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The 
Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give 
reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First reviewers of 
draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inv. v. Harris, 490 
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, 
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the draft environmental impact statement 
comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made 
available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaning fully 
consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact 
statement. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering 
issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is 
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    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.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: January 3, 2006.
Gary Garthwait,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-226 Filed 11-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

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