Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District; Deschutes National Forest; Deschutes County, Oregon; Mt. Bachelor Ski Area Improvements Project EIS, 23273-23275 [2011-9869]
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srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 26, 2011 / Notices
Administrator has authority with
respect to voluntary inspection and
certification of animal products and the
inspection, testing, treatment, and
certification of animals.
APHIS regulations in 9 CFR part 149
contain certification requirements for
the voluntary Trichinae Certification
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is intended to enhance the ability of
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The current collection activities for
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disposal plans, animal movement
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affidavits, logbooks, recordkeeping, test
results, documented procedures at
slaughter facilities for certified swine
and edible pork products, and written
procedures at approved laboratories that
pertain to the performance of processverification testing. Other activities
being combined with the current
collection are spot audits; notification to
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requests to APHIS for temporary
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Estimate of burden: The public
reporting burden for this collection of
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information is estimated to average
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Respondents: Auditors (accredited
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Done in Washington, DC, this 21st day of
April 2011.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–10088 Filed 4–25–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District;
Deschutes National Forest; Deschutes
County, Oregon; Mt. Bachelor Ski Area
Improvements Project EIS
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The USDA, Forest Service,
will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on a proposed action
comprising a number of infrastructural
improvements at Mt. Bachelor ski resort,
22 miles southwest of Bend, Oregon.
The resort lies entirely on National
Forest System land and has operated
under a ski area special use permit
(SUP) issued by the Deschutes National
Forest (DNF) since 1958. The permit
area is 8,122 acres.
The projects include on-mountain
improvements such as development of a
new chairlift and associated trails,
shortening and/or replacement of three
existing lifts, expanding snowmaking
coverage, construction of a lift-served,
downhill mountain bike park, and
adding to the Nordic trail system.
Improvements to base area facilities are
also proposed, including expansion of
two existing lodges, construction of a
SUMMARY:
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23273
new lodge, construction of a race
training center, removal and/or
relocation of inappropriately sited and
outdated facilities, expansion of parking
lots, and installation of associated
infrastructure.
The EIS will address the Proposed
Action and the required No-Action
Alternative, as well as any other
alternatives identified through public
scoping or internal, interdisciplinary
review. The EIS process will include a
number of opportunities for
involvement and input from the public
as well as interested organizations and
agencies.
Public Scoping. This notice initiates
the EIS process and provides notice of
the first opportunity for public
involvement, the scoping period.
Comments regarding the scope of the
EIS (i.e., the actions, alternatives, and
impacts it addresses) are invited.
Comments should be as specific as
possible. More information on the
Proposed Action and instructions for
submitting scoping comments are
provided below.
Comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be considered part of the public record
for this project and will be available for
public inspection.
This is also an opportunity to
participate in the National Historic
Preservation Act, Section 106 process.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by 30
days following the date that this notice
appears in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Shane Jeffries, District Ranger, BendFort Rock Ranger District, Red Oaks
Square, 1230 NE Third Street Suite A–
262, Bend, Oregon 97701. Comments
may also be faxed to (541) 383–4700,
sent electronically to commentspacificnorthwest-deschutes-bendftrock@fsled.us, or hand delivered to
1230 NE Third Street, Suite A–262,
Bend, OR, between 7:45 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Tinderholt, Recreation Team
Leader, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District,
Red Oaks Square, 1230 NE Third Street
Suite A–262, Bend, Oregon 97701,
phone (541) 383–4708.
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The responsible
official is John Allen, Forest Supervisor,
Deschutes National Forest, 1001 SW
Emkay Dr., Bend, OR 97701. He will
decide whether and under what
conditions to approve the Proposed
Action or an alternative addressed in
the EIS.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 26, 2011 / Notices
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background. Under the terms of the
Ski Area Permit Act of 1986,
development and operation of ski areas
on National Forest System lands is
guided by master development plans
which describe existing conditions,
identify physical, environmental, and
socio-economic opportunities and
constraints, establish the permittee’s
conceptual vision for the ski area, and
outline near-to-long-term plans for
achieving that vision. As a condition of
SUP issuance, the Forest Service must
review and accept a ski area’s MDP. One
component of an MDP is development
of the ski area’s physical infrastructure,
some or all of which may lie on
National Forest System land and thus
require agency approval. When
development plans move from the
conceptual to the concrete realm, the
permittee submits a proposal to the
Forest Service describing specific
projects, and the agency makes a
determination whether to accept the
proposal and initiate their decisionmaking process. If the proposal has the
potential to significantly impact the
human environment, the agency must
analyze and disclose those
environmental impacts, in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA).
Mt. Bachelor’s current MDP was
accepted by the DNF in January 2011.
The MDP documents analysis of current
conditions at the resort and, based on
that analysis, outlines anticipated
development and management of the
resort over the next 10 years. As the
resort operates entirely on National
Forest System land, all the proposed
infrastructural improvement projects
included in the plan require Forest
Service approval prior to
implementation. These projects have the
potential to impact the human
environment, so they constitute the
Proposed Action subject to review in
this EIS.
Purpose and Need. The purpose and
need for action reflects the difference
between existing conditions at Mt.
Bachelor and desired conditions. The
overarching purpose for this Proposed
Action is to implement direction in the
Land and Resource Plan, Deschutes
National Forest (Forest LRMP);
specifically the Proposed Action would
assist in ‘‘Providing a wide variety of
recreational opportunities within a
forest environment where the localized
settings may be modified to
accommodate large number of visitors’’
(Forest LRMP p. IV–135). In order to
achieve that purpose, the Proposed
Action addresses the following needs.
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1. To improve the skiing experience
during windy conditions. Wind causes
routine closure of the high-elevation lift
and frequent closure of the northwestfacing chairlifts at Mt. Bachelor. These
closures significantly reduce the
available terrain at Mt. Bachelor on
windy days, resulting in increased skier
densities on the remaining pods.
Development of the proposed Eastside
pod addresses this need.
2. To balance the capacities and
utilization of resort facilities. The
existing Rainbow chairlift is
underutilized by beginner and lowintermediate skiers due primarily to its
lengthy ride time. It is also one of the
oldest lifts on the mountain. In contrast,
the adjacent Sunrise Express chairlift is
over-utilized on busy days, resulting in
excessive lift lines and less even
distribution of skiers. A better balance
in the utilization of these two chairlifts
is needed to efficiently access the
terrain they serve. Shortening the
Rainbow lift alignment, installing the
current Sunrise Express detachable
quad lift in that shortened alignment,
and replacing Sunrise Express with a
higher-capacity detachable six-pack
chairlift address this need.
The Sunrise Lodge is frequently
overcrowded, even on off-peak days. A
better balance between the lodge’s
capacity and demand for the services it
provides is needed to improve the
overall recreational experience available
from the Sunrise base area. Proposed
improvements to the Sunrise base area
skier services address this need.
The Sunrise parking lot fills before
the other parking lots because it is the
first entrance to the resort and it is
located on the more wind-protected east
side of the mountain. Additional
parking is needed at the Sunrise base
area to maintain a balance with the
lodge, lift, and trail capacity and to
accommodate parking demand. The
proposed parking lot expansion and
access improvements address this need.
The West Village parking lot provides
parking for skiers, tubers, Nordic skiers,
skier-services customers, sight-seers,
and employees, and it fills to capacity
on busy days. Additional capacity is
needed to balance with peak demand for
parking space. The proposed employee
and overflow parking lot at West Village
address this need.
Bob’s Bungalow, a warming hut on
the Nordic trail network, is currently
undersized and in need of repair,
resulting in crowded, less than
comfortable conditions at times.
Additional space and refurbishing are
needed to meet current demand.
Proposed improvements to the warming
hut address this need.
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3. To segregate user groups and ability
levels. Alpine races and race training
take place on the busiest part of the
mountain. Racers must mix with other
skiers of varying ability levels, which
detracts from both training effectiveness
and the enjoyment of the recreational
skiers. These activities need to be
separated in the interest of both. This
need is addressed by the proposed
construction of an Alpine Training
Center with dedicated training terrain
accessed by a shortened Red Chair lift.
The Nordic Center does not provide
beginner terrain in the vicinity of the
Nordic lodge, and lower ability level
skiers have to navigate a more difficult
trail to access low-gradient terrain. An
easily accessible learning area and a
suitable trail for lower level skiers to
access the trail network would increase
accessibility and use of this unique
Nordic skiing opportunity. The
proposed learning area and two new
Nordic trails address this need.
The tubing area is currently located
on a low, inconsistent slope with a short
run-out. A site away from the congested
skier base area, with a more suitable
slope gradient and run-out, would
provide an improved recreational
experience for skiers and tubers alike.
The proposed relocation of the tubing
hill and support infrastructure to the
other side of the West Village parking
lot addresses this need.
4. To update outdated resort facilities
and infrastructure. The existing ski
patrol, clinic, and administration
building is undersized and outdated.
Updated facilities are needed to serve
these critical functions. Removal of this
building and expansion of remaining
structures to better support these
functions, as proposed, addresses this
need.
The existing generator/electrical/
telephone/data building is unsightly
and outdated, and it is inappropriately
located within view of the West Village
base and adjacent ski terrain. A more
aesthetically appropriate building for
these utilities in an area that is further
separated from the ski terrain is needed
to provide these services. Removal of
this building and developing new
utilities infrastructure at a less central
location, as proposed, addresses this
need.
Mt. Bachelor currently generates
emergency power with diesel
generators. Heat is provided using
propane. Together, these facilities
require substantial investment in and
storage of fuel. A more cost-efficient,
environmentally compatible power and
heat generation facility would better
meet these needs. The proposed
biomass co-generation facility addresses
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 26, 2011 / Notices
this need, as well as providing an
attractive option for utilization of wood
products from forest management
projects and associated economic
benefits.
5. To maintain adequate snow
coverage in specific high-traffic areas.
Early-season snow coverage is often
inadequate on several key trails on the
central part of the ski mountain.
Improved snow coverage is needed to
alleviate these deficiencies. The
proposed expansion of the existing
snowmaking system addresses this
need.
6. To provide additional summer
recreational opportunities. The resort
currently has only one dedicated hiking
trail and one mountain bike trail,
located in the base and Nordic areas.
Increased hiking and biking
infrastructure is needed to meet
demand, increase year-round utilization
of resort resources and infrastructure,
and to provide downhill mountain
biking opportunities on the Forest. The
proposed hiking trails, mountain bike
park, interpretive areas, zipline course,
and rock climbing structure address this
need.
Proposed Action. The Proposed
Action can be summarized as follows:
Eastside Pod:
• Developing the new Eastside
Express chairlift and associated trails.
The lift would be a detachable-grip,
quadruple lift about 6,800 feet long with
a capacity of 2,400 persons per hour
(pph).
• Constructing a new catchline at a
lower elevation and selective thinning
above the new catchline.
Sunrise Area:
• Replacing the Rainbow lift in a
shortened alignment. The alignment
would be shortened by about 40 percent
to 3,150 feet. The current Sunshine
Express lift, a detachable quad with a
capacity of 1,800 pph, would replace
the existing fixed-grip lift.
• Replacing the Sunshine Express lift,
a detachable quad rated at 1,800 pph,
with a new detachable six-place lift
with a capacity of 2,800 pph.
• Developing the Sunrise Learning
Center, the venue for the resort’s
children’s ski school program, that
would include dedicated space in the
remodeled Sunrise Lodge, carpet lifts on
adjacent ‘‘bunny hills,’’ and a forested
kids ‘‘adventure zone.’’
• Improving Sunrise base area skier
services, including a new 18,000 to
25,000 square foot lodge and a 115
percent expansion of the parking lot
with a new access road.
• Constructing a 125,000-gallon
buried water reservoir to provide
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adequate storage for the new lodge and
associated facilities.
• Doubling the capacity of the
existing Sunrise base area wastewater
treatment system, particularly the drain
field.
• Installing a restroom facility near
the base of Skyliner Express.
West Village Area:
• Shortening the Red Chair by
roughly 25 percent to 3,000 feet, and
constructing the Alpine Training Center
to house the resort’s alpine racing
program.
• Adding 25.4 acres to the resort’s
snowmaking coverage by expanding the
existing snowmaking system onto five
adjacent ski trails.
• Removing outdated West Village
buildings (the ski patrol/administration
building and the generator building) and
expanding the West Village Lodge by
about 7,000 square feet.
• Moving the tubing hill across the
parking lot to the ‘‘Old Maid’’ area.
• Developing a new 2.5-acre
employee/overflow parking lot.
• Constructing a biomass cogeneration facility to provide electrical
power and steam heat. It would be
located near the existing maintenance
building and fuel storage area.
Nordic Center:
• Making minor improvements to the
Nordic Center infrastructure, including
a 2-acre learning area, two new trails to
access the existing trail network, and
refurbishing Bob’s Bungalow, including
a new deck and fire pit.
Summer Activities:
• New hiking trails from Pine Marten
Lodge to West Village, from the lodge to
the top of Northwest Express lift, and
around an interpretive loop above the
lodge.
• A mountain bike park including a
skills area near the base of Pine Marten
Express lift and a series of beginner,
intermediate, and advanced downhill
trails accessed from the top of the lift.
• A canopy tour zipline course with
three segments from Pine Marten Lodge
down to West Village.
• A rock climbing structure at Pine
Marten Lodge.
Issues. Preliminary issues include the
effect of the Proposed Action on
potential wilderness (the Eastside pod
would be adjacent to an inventoried
roadless area), special status plant and
wildlife species including the northern
spotted owl and several fungi, and
visual quality, particularly as viewed
from the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway.
Additional Opportunities for Public
Involvement. A Draft EIS will be filed
with the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and is projected to be
released for public review in March
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23275
2012. The EPA will publish a Notice of
Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS in
the Federal Register, opening a 45-day
period for comment on that document;
the DNF will then publish a legal notice
in the newspaper of record, The Bulletin
in Bend, OR, announcing the date of the
Federal Register notice.
The Final EIS and Record of Decision
(ROD) are scheduled to be released in
February 2013. The ROD will include
responses to all substantive comments
received on the Draft EIS. The EPA will
publish a Notice of Availability (NOA)
of the Final EIS in the Federal Register,
and the DNF will publish a legal notice
in the newspaper of record, opening a
45-day period for administrative appeal
of the decision documented in the ROD
(36 CFR part 215).
Dated: April 18, 2011.
Elizabeth J. Peer,
Acting District Ranger, Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger
District, Deschutes National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2011–9869 Filed 4–25–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Allegheny Resource Advisory
Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Allegheny Resource
Advisory Committee will meet in
Clarendon, Pennsylvania. The
committee is authorized under the
Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110–
343) (the Act) and operates in
compliance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act. The purpose of the
committee is to improve collaborative
relationships and to provide advice and
recommendations to the Forest Service
concerning projects and funding
consistent with the title II of the Act.
The meeting is open to the public. The
purpose of the meeting is to organize the
committee, draft committee by-laws and
begin the process of soliciting
appropriate projects for nomination for
funding.
DATES: The meeting will be held May
11, 2011, at 9 a.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Mead Township Building located on
Mead Blvd., in Clarendon,
Pennsylvania. Written comments may
be submitted as described under
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
All comments, including names and
addresses when provided, are placed in
the record and are available for public
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23273-23275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9869]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District; Deschutes National Forest;
Deschutes County, Oregon; Mt. Bachelor Ski Area Improvements Project
EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on a proposed action comprising a number of
infrastructural improvements at Mt. Bachelor ski resort, 22 miles
southwest of Bend, Oregon. The resort lies entirely on National Forest
System land and has operated under a ski area special use permit (SUP)
issued by the Deschutes National Forest (DNF) since 1958. The permit
area is 8,122 acres.
The projects include on-mountain improvements such as development
of a new chairlift and associated trails, shortening and/or replacement
of three existing lifts, expanding snowmaking coverage, construction of
a lift-served, downhill mountain bike park, and adding to the Nordic
trail system. Improvements to base area facilities are also proposed,
including expansion of two existing lodges, construction of a new
lodge, construction of a race training center, removal and/or
relocation of inappropriately sited and outdated facilities, expansion
of parking lots, and installation of associated infrastructure.
The EIS will address the Proposed Action and the required No-Action
Alternative, as well as any other alternatives identified through
public scoping or internal, interdisciplinary review. The EIS process
will include a number of opportunities for involvement and input from
the public as well as interested organizations and agencies.
Public Scoping. This notice initiates the EIS process and provides
notice of the first opportunity for public involvement, the scoping
period. Comments regarding the scope of the EIS (i.e., the actions,
alternatives, and impacts it addresses) are invited. Comments should be
as specific as possible. More information on the Proposed Action and
instructions for submitting scoping comments are provided below.
Comments received in response to this notice, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public
record for this project and will be available for public inspection.
This is also an opportunity to participate in the National Historic
Preservation Act, Section 106 process.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by 30 days following the date that this notice appears in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Shane Jeffries, District Ranger,
Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, Red Oaks Square, 1230 NE Third Street
Suite A-262, Bend, Oregon 97701. Comments may also be faxed to (541)
383-4700, sent electronically to comments-pacificnorthwest-deschutes-bend-ftrock@fsled.us, or hand delivered to 1230 NE Third Street, Suite
A-262, Bend, OR, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Tinderholt, Recreation Team
Leader, Bend-Fort Rock Ranger District, Red Oaks Square, 1230 NE Third
Street Suite A-262, Bend, Oregon 97701, phone (541) 383-4708.
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The responsible official is John Allen, Forest
Supervisor, Deschutes National Forest, 1001 SW Emkay Dr., Bend, OR
97701. He will decide whether and under what conditions to approve the
Proposed Action or an alternative addressed in the EIS.
[[Page 23274]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background. Under the terms of the Ski Area Permit Act of 1986,
development and operation of ski areas on National Forest System lands
is guided by master development plans which describe existing
conditions, identify physical, environmental, and socio-economic
opportunities and constraints, establish the permittee's conceptual
vision for the ski area, and outline near-to-long-term plans for
achieving that vision. As a condition of SUP issuance, the Forest
Service must review and accept a ski area's MDP. One component of an
MDP is development of the ski area's physical infrastructure, some or
all of which may lie on National Forest System land and thus require
agency approval. When development plans move from the conceptual to the
concrete realm, the permittee submits a proposal to the Forest Service
describing specific projects, and the agency makes a determination
whether to accept the proposal and initiate their decision-making
process. If the proposal has the potential to significantly impact the
human environment, the agency must analyze and disclose those
environmental impacts, in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
Mt. Bachelor's current MDP was accepted by the DNF in January 2011.
The MDP documents analysis of current conditions at the resort and,
based on that analysis, outlines anticipated development and management
of the resort over the next 10 years. As the resort operates entirely
on National Forest System land, all the proposed infrastructural
improvement projects included in the plan require Forest Service
approval prior to implementation. These projects have the potential to
impact the human environment, so they constitute the Proposed Action
subject to review in this EIS.
Purpose and Need. The purpose and need for action reflects the
difference between existing conditions at Mt. Bachelor and desired
conditions. The overarching purpose for this Proposed Action is to
implement direction in the Land and Resource Plan, Deschutes National
Forest (Forest LRMP); specifically the Proposed Action would assist in
``Providing a wide variety of recreational opportunities within a
forest environment where the localized settings may be modified to
accommodate large number of visitors'' (Forest LRMP p. IV-135). In
order to achieve that purpose, the Proposed Action addresses the
following needs.
1. To improve the skiing experience during windy conditions. Wind
causes routine closure of the high-elevation lift and frequent closure
of the northwest-facing chairlifts at Mt. Bachelor. These closures
significantly reduce the available terrain at Mt. Bachelor on windy
days, resulting in increased skier densities on the remaining pods.
Development of the proposed Eastside pod addresses this need.
2. To balance the capacities and utilization of resort facilities.
The existing Rainbow chairlift is underutilized by beginner and low-
intermediate skiers due primarily to its lengthy ride time. It is also
one of the oldest lifts on the mountain. In contrast, the adjacent
Sunrise Express chairlift is over-utilized on busy days, resulting in
excessive lift lines and less even distribution of skiers. A better
balance in the utilization of these two chairlifts is needed to
efficiently access the terrain they serve. Shortening the Rainbow lift
alignment, installing the current Sunrise Express detachable quad lift
in that shortened alignment, and replacing Sunrise Express with a
higher-capacity detachable six-pack chairlift address this need.
The Sunrise Lodge is frequently overcrowded, even on off-peak days.
A better balance between the lodge's capacity and demand for the
services it provides is needed to improve the overall recreational
experience available from the Sunrise base area. Proposed improvements
to the Sunrise base area skier services address this need.
The Sunrise parking lot fills before the other parking lots because
it is the first entrance to the resort and it is located on the more
wind-protected east side of the mountain. Additional parking is needed
at the Sunrise base area to maintain a balance with the lodge, lift,
and trail capacity and to accommodate parking demand. The proposed
parking lot expansion and access improvements address this need.
The West Village parking lot provides parking for skiers, tubers,
Nordic skiers, skier-services customers, sight-seers, and employees,
and it fills to capacity on busy days. Additional capacity is needed to
balance with peak demand for parking space. The proposed employee and
overflow parking lot at West Village address this need.
Bob's Bungalow, a warming hut on the Nordic trail network, is
currently undersized and in need of repair, resulting in crowded, less
than comfortable conditions at times. Additional space and refurbishing
are needed to meet current demand. Proposed improvements to the warming
hut address this need.
3. To segregate user groups and ability levels. Alpine races and
race training take place on the busiest part of the mountain. Racers
must mix with other skiers of varying ability levels, which detracts
from both training effectiveness and the enjoyment of the recreational
skiers. These activities need to be separated in the interest of both.
This need is addressed by the proposed construction of an Alpine
Training Center with dedicated training terrain accessed by a shortened
Red Chair lift.
The Nordic Center does not provide beginner terrain in the vicinity
of the Nordic lodge, and lower ability level skiers have to navigate a
more difficult trail to access low-gradient terrain. An easily
accessible learning area and a suitable trail for lower level skiers to
access the trail network would increase accessibility and use of this
unique Nordic skiing opportunity. The proposed learning area and two
new Nordic trails address this need.
The tubing area is currently located on a low, inconsistent slope
with a short run-out. A site away from the congested skier base area,
with a more suitable slope gradient and run-out, would provide an
improved recreational experience for skiers and tubers alike. The
proposed relocation of the tubing hill and support infrastructure to
the other side of the West Village parking lot addresses this need.
4. To update outdated resort facilities and infrastructure. The
existing ski patrol, clinic, and administration building is undersized
and outdated. Updated facilities are needed to serve these critical
functions. Removal of this building and expansion of remaining
structures to better support these functions, as proposed, addresses
this need.
The existing generator/electrical/telephone/data building is
unsightly and outdated, and it is inappropriately located within view
of the West Village base and adjacent ski terrain. A more aesthetically
appropriate building for these utilities in an area that is further
separated from the ski terrain is needed to provide these services.
Removal of this building and developing new utilities infrastructure at
a less central location, as proposed, addresses this need.
Mt. Bachelor currently generates emergency power with diesel
generators. Heat is provided using propane. Together, these facilities
require substantial investment in and storage of fuel. A more cost-
efficient, environmentally compatible power and heat generation
facility would better meet these needs. The proposed biomass co-
generation facility addresses
[[Page 23275]]
this need, as well as providing an attractive option for utilization of
wood products from forest management projects and associated economic
benefits.
5. To maintain adequate snow coverage in specific high-traffic
areas. Early-season snow coverage is often inadequate on several key
trails on the central part of the ski mountain. Improved snow coverage
is needed to alleviate these deficiencies. The proposed expansion of
the existing snowmaking system addresses this need.
6. To provide additional summer recreational opportunities. The
resort currently has only one dedicated hiking trail and one mountain
bike trail, located in the base and Nordic areas. Increased hiking and
biking infrastructure is needed to meet demand, increase year-round
utilization of resort resources and infrastructure, and to provide
downhill mountain biking opportunities on the Forest. The proposed
hiking trails, mountain bike park, interpretive areas, zipline course,
and rock climbing structure address this need.
Proposed Action. The Proposed Action can be summarized as follows:
Eastside Pod:
Developing the new Eastside Express chairlift and
associated trails. The lift would be a detachable-grip, quadruple lift
about 6,800 feet long with a capacity of 2,400 persons per hour (pph).
Constructing a new catchline at a lower elevation and
selective thinning above the new catchline.
Sunrise Area:
Replacing the Rainbow lift in a shortened alignment. The
alignment would be shortened by about 40 percent to 3,150 feet. The
current Sunshine Express lift, a detachable quad with a capacity of
1,800 pph, would replace the existing fixed-grip lift.
Replacing the Sunshine Express lift, a detachable quad
rated at 1,800 pph, with a new detachable six-place lift with a
capacity of 2,800 pph.
Developing the Sunrise Learning Center, the venue for the
resort's children's ski school program, that would include dedicated
space in the remodeled Sunrise Lodge, carpet lifts on adjacent ``bunny
hills,'' and a forested kids ``adventure zone.''
Improving Sunrise base area skier services, including a
new 18,000 to 25,000 square foot lodge and a 115 percent expansion of
the parking lot with a new access road.
Constructing a 125,000-gallon buried water reservoir to
provide adequate storage for the new lodge and associated facilities.
Doubling the capacity of the existing Sunrise base area
wastewater treatment system, particularly the drain field.
Installing a restroom facility near the base of Skyliner
Express.
West Village Area:
Shortening the Red Chair by roughly 25 percent to 3,000
feet, and constructing the Alpine Training Center to house the resort's
alpine racing program.
Adding 25.4 acres to the resort's snowmaking coverage by
expanding the existing snowmaking system onto five adjacent ski trails.
Removing outdated West Village buildings (the ski patrol/
administration building and the generator building) and expanding the
West Village Lodge by about 7,000 square feet.
Moving the tubing hill across the parking lot to the ``Old
Maid'' area.
Developing a new 2.5-acre employee/overflow parking lot.
Constructing a biomass co-generation facility to provide
electrical power and steam heat. It would be located near the existing
maintenance building and fuel storage area.
Nordic Center:
Making minor improvements to the Nordic Center
infrastructure, including a 2-acre learning area, two new trails to
access the existing trail network, and refurbishing Bob's Bungalow,
including a new deck and fire pit.
Summer Activities:
New hiking trails from Pine Marten Lodge to West Village,
from the lodge to the top of Northwest Express lift, and around an
interpretive loop above the lodge.
A mountain bike park including a skills area near the base
of Pine Marten Express lift and a series of beginner, intermediate, and
advanced downhill trails accessed from the top of the lift.
A canopy tour zipline course with three segments from Pine
Marten Lodge down to West Village.
A rock climbing structure at Pine Marten Lodge.
Issues. Preliminary issues include the effect of the Proposed
Action on potential wilderness (the Eastside pod would be adjacent to
an inventoried roadless area), special status plant and wildlife
species including the northern spotted owl and several fungi, and
visual quality, particularly as viewed from the Cascade Lakes Scenic
Byway.
Additional Opportunities for Public Involvement. A Draft EIS will
be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is
projected to be released for public review in March 2012. The EPA will
publish a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS in the Federal
Register, opening a 45-day period for comment on that document; the DNF
will then publish a legal notice in the newspaper of record, The
Bulletin in Bend, OR, announcing the date of the Federal Register
notice.
The Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) are scheduled to be
released in February 2013. The ROD will include responses to all
substantive comments received on the Draft EIS. The EPA will publish a
Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final EIS in the Federal Register,
and the DNF will publish a legal notice in the newspaper of record,
opening a 45-day period for administrative appeal of the decision
documented in the ROD (36 CFR part 215).
Dated: April 18, 2011.
Elizabeth J. Peer,
Acting District Ranger, Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District, Deschutes
National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2011-9869 Filed 4-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
