Tahoe National Forest; Placer County, California; Squaw Valley to Alpine Meadows Base-to-Base Gondola Project, 25641-25642 [2016-09672]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25641-25642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09672]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tahoe National Forest; Placer County, California; Squaw Valley to 
Alpine Meadows Base-to-Base Gondola Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: In September 2015, the Tahoe National Forest (TNF) accepted an 
application from Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC which proposes to 
install, operate, and maintain an aerial ropeway system connecting the 
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski areas. This proposal also included 
an alteration to current avalanche mitigation techniques including the 
installation of Gazex[supreg] exploders. Implementation of the proposal 
would require an amendment to an existing Special Use Permit (SUP) 
issued for the operation and maintenance of Alpine Meadows Ski Area 
(Alpine Meadows). The proposal is consistent with Alpine Meadows' 
current Master Development Plan (MDP) and passed the screening criteria 
for consideration to use National Forest System (NFS) lands and amend 
the existing permit consistent with Forest Service land use 
regulations.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by May 31, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in winter 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
in summer 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Eli Ilano, Tahoe National Forest 
Supervisor, c/o NEPA Contractor, P.O. Box 2729, Frisco, CO 80443. 
Comments may also be submitted on the project

[[Page 25642]]

Web site: https://squawalpinegondola-eis.com/comment/, or sent via email 
to eis.com">scoping_comment@squawalpinegondola-eis.com. Two public meetings will 
be held on May 9, 2016 at the Resort at Squaw Creek, Monument Peak 
Room, 400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley, California. Additional 
information regarding the meetings is provided below in the ``Scoping 
Process'' section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
proposed project can be obtained from the project Web site, https://squawalpinegondola-eis.com/, or by contacting Joe Flannery, Winter 
Sports Specialist. Mr. Flannery can be reached by phone at (530) 587-
3558 extension 243 or by email at jflannery@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

    The TNF's purpose for the project is to improve developed winter 
recreation opportunities in the Scott Management Area, consistent with 
the 1990 Tahoe National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as 
amended (Forest Plan). SUPs, and amendments to SUPs, are issued by the 
Forest Service and are required by law to be consistent with the Forest 
Plan. Desired future conditions for recreation management in the Forest 
Plan relevant to the project direct the Forest to ``provide a variety 
of opportunities for developed and dispersed recreation experiences'' 
(Forest Plan, p. V-5). The Alpine Meadows SUP is located in the Scott 
Management Area which allows for development of additional winter 
sports facilities and support services as part of the desired future 
condition of the management area (Forest Plan, p. V-446-449).
    The TNF needs to respond to Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC's land 
use application which proposes amendment of their SUP to improve 
connectivity between Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley ski areas. The 
need for improved connectivity between the ski areas is based on a 
number of factors. The developed trail network at Squaw Valley has 
limited terrain suitable for beginners and teaching; Alpine Meadows has 
additional intermediate and beginner terrain. Squaw Valley has the 
majority of resort amenities (e.g., accommodations, restaurants, 
shopping, entertainment, etc.); Alpine Meadows, in contrast, has 
limited amenities. While guests can currently access both ski areas on 
the same lift ticket, they must drive or shuttle between the two areas 
in order to access all the different terrain variety and/or amenities 
offered at both locations.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action includes amendment of the Alpine Meadows 
Special Use Permit to authorize construction, operation and maintenance 
of the following proposed infrastructure and improvements: (1) 
Construction of a gondola connecting the ski and base areas of Alpine 
Meadows and Squaw Valley, and (2) installation of eight Gazex avalanche 
mitigation exploders (seven on NFS lands, one on private lands). 
Additional information and maps of this proposal can be found at: 
https://squawalpinegondola-eis.com/.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official is the Tahoe National Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether to authorize the Proposed Action 
as described above, to modify the project to meet the purpose and need 
while addressing issues raised in public scoping, or to take no action 
at this time.

Permits or Licenses Required

    The project would require an amendment to the Alpine Meadows 
Special Use Permit, issued by the United States Forest Service.
    In addition to analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), Placer County will prepare an Environmental Impact Report to 
analyze environmental impacts of the proposal pursuant to the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Forest Service and 
Placer County will coordinate the NEPA and CEQA analyses for 
consistency.

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 project. Two public meetings 
will be held on May 9, 2016 to gather comments on the scope of the 
project. Both meetings will be held at the Resort at Squaw Creek, 
Monument Peak Room, 400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley, California. 
The first meeting will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and the second will 
be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. These meetings will be held jointly with 
Placer County regarding their analysis of the project under California 
Environmental Quality Act. Representatives from the TNF, Squaw Valley 
Ski Holdings, LLC, and Placer County will be present to answer 
questions and provide additional information on this project.
    This project will be subject to 36 CFR 218 Project-level 
Predecisional Administrative Review Process (Parts A and B). 
Individuals and entities who have submitted timely, specific written 
comments regarding a proposed project or activity during public comment 
periods, including this 30-day public scoping period, may file an 
objection (36 CFR 218.5(a)). Written 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 (36 CFR 218.25(b)(2)). For purposes of meeting the 36 CFR 
218.5 eligibility requirements, the public scoping period will end 30 
days from the date the Notice of Intent is published in the Federal 
Register.
    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: April 19, 2016.
Eli Ilano,
Forest Supervisor, Tahoe National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2016-09672 Filed 4-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P