White River National Forest; Summit County, CO; 2013 Arapahoe Basin Improvements EIS, 72860-72861 [2013-28995]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72860-72861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28995]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


White River National Forest; Summit County, CO; 2013 Arapahoe 
Basin Improvements EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) has submitted a proposal to 
the White River National Forest (WRNF) to pursue approval of proposed 
projects included in its 2012 Master Development Plan (MDP). The WRNF 
has accepted this proposal, and is preparing an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the potential environmental 
effects of implementing the projects. The Proposed Action is designed 
to: Provide The Beavers with snow safety operations and ski patrol 
services consistent with statements made in the 2002 WRNF Forest Plan 
FEIS; accommodate existing and future demand for high Alpine and open 
bowl skiing while protecting and enhancing the distinctive skiing 
experience that A-Basin provides; improve access to Montezuma Bowl; 
upgrade or remove existing lifts, as needed; improve water storage 
capacity for existing snowmaking operations; and, enhance four-season 
recreational opportunities.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by January 21, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected to be available for public review in the spring of 2014 and 
the final environmental impact statement is expected in the winter of 
2014/15.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest 
Supervisor, c/Joe Foreman, White River National Forest, PO Box 620, 
Silverthorne, CO 80498; FAX (970) 468-7735 or by email to: wrnf_scoping_comments@fs.fed.us (please include A-Basin 2013 Improvements 
EIS in the subject line).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
proposed project can be obtained from: Joe Foreman, Winter Sports 
Permit Administrator, Dillon Ranger District, 680 Blue River Pkwy, PO 
Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498. Mr. Foreman can be reached by phone at 
(970) 262-3443 or by email at jgforeman@fs.fed.us.
    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: Dating back to 1982, six avalanche 
fatalities have occurred in the backcountry immediately adjacent to A-
Basin's operational boundary--five in the Steep Gullies and one in 
Beaver Bowl. Currently, The Beavers can be accessed legally through 
backcountry access points located along the western extent of A-Basin's 
operational boundary. From these points, skiers may exit the 
controlled/patrolled portions of A-Basin's operational boundary to 
access adjacent backcountry terrain in The Beavers, the Steep Gullies 
and the Rock Pile. In particular, these areas receive heavy backcountry 
use by the public once the snowpack is sufficient. The Proposed Action 
proposes to incorporate The Beavers into A-Basin's operational boundary 
to improve the safety of recreating in that area.
    Documentation of the popularity of The Beavers can be traced back 
to the 2002 WRNF Forest Plan FEIS, which provides detailed information 
on ``Future Expansion'' areas at existing ski areas across Eagle, 
Garfield, Pitkin, and Summit counties. Related to A-Basin's SUP area, 
and specifically related to planned projects discussed in this 
proposal, the 2002 Forest Plan FEIS states:

    The Beavers are popular with backcountry skiers and snowboarders 
who access the site from Arapahoe Basin ski area. Steep north-facing 
chutes above treeline with numerous rock outcrops characterize the 
terrain. Most skiers hike or hitchhike uphill to return to their 
vehicles. Avalanche risk to the public is potentially high. The risk 
could be partially mitigated if the Beavers site was developed for 
skiing as part of the ski area.

    Bringing The Beavers into A-Basin's operational boundary would 
provide the area with snow safety operations and ski patrol services 
consistent with statements made in the 2002 WRNF Forest Plan FEIS.
    In addition to safety, A-Basin's market is unique in that it is 
strongly skewed

[[Page 72861]]

toward advanced ability level skiers as compared to the majority of ski 
resorts in the Central Rocky Mountain region, who primarily accommodate 
intermediate skiers. As visitation increases in the future, A-Basin 
needs to ensure that its reputation for advanced terrain with low trail 
densities is not only maintained, but improved. It is therefore 
reasonable to look to opportunities within the existing SUP area for 
opportunities to meet the needs of A-Basin's market.
    Finally, guest expectations continue to evolve and ski areas must 
constantly focus on raising service standards and improving the overall 
recreational experience. By upgrading, supplementing and removing 
outdated infrastructure within the ski area, improving snowmaking 
efficiencies and providing activities to enhance the four-season 
recreation experience on NFS lands, A-Basin can continue to raise 
service standards while maintaining the unique A-Basin experience.
    Proposed Action: The Proposed Action includes the following five 
elements, identified below. A full description of each element can be 
found at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/whiteriver/landmanagement/projects.
     Incorporate The Beavers and the Steep Gullies into A-
Basin's Operational Boundary, and providing lift access, developed ski 
trails and tree skiing in that area. The proposed terrain would be 
patrolled and avalanche control/snow safety work would be conducted 
throughout the area. To minimize or mitigate potential effects to 
wildlife from incorporating this terrain into the operational boundary, 
conservation measures would be considered. The conservation measures 
would be further defined in conjunction with the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service and other partners.
     Install a surface lift from the Lenawee Mountain and 
Norway lifts to Montezuma Bowl to improve access from the front side to 
Montezuma Bowl.
     Replace the Pallavicini and Molly Hogan Lifts with more 
current lift technology in similar alignments and with lifts that 
provide similar hourly capacities.
     Expand the existing snowmaking water storage reservoir 
from 5.5 acre feet to approximately 35 acre feet.
     Provide a Zip Line Tour and Challenge/Ropes Course at the 
ski area, accessible from existing ski area infrastructure.
    These projects are designed to provide lift served access to 
additional advanced terrain within the existing SUP boundary, while 
maintaining the integrity of the unique characteristics for which A-
Basin is known. The proposed projects are consistent with the A-Basin's 
2012 Master Development Plan.
    Based on the Proposed Action there may be a need to do a site-
specific Forest Plan Amendment to address Southern Rockies Lynx 
Amendment Standard All S1.
    Responsible Official: The Responsible Official is Scott 
Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor for the WRNF.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: Based on the analysis that will be 
documented in the forthcoming EIS, the Responsible Official will decide 
whether or not to implement, in whole or in part, the Proposed Action 
or another alternative that may be developed by the Forest Service as a 
result of scoping.
    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 open house regarding this proposal will be held at 
the Silverthorne Library located at 651 Center Circle, Silverthorne, 
Colorado, on December 3, 2013 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. 
Representatives from the WRNF and A-Basin will be present to answer 
questions and provide additional information on this project.
    Public questions and comments regarding this proposal are an 
integral part of this environmental analysis process. Input provided by 
interested and/or affected individuals, organizations and governmental 
agencies will be used to identify resource issues that will be analyzed 
in the environmental impact statement. The Forest Service will identify 
significant issues raised during the scoping process, and use them to 
formulate alternatives, prescribe mitigation measures and project 
design features, or analyze environmental effects.
    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.

    Dated: November 27, 2013.
Jan Cutts,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2013-28995 Filed 12-3-13; 8:45 am]
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