White River National Forest; Eagle County; Colorado; Golden Peak Improvements Project, 15685-15686 [2017-06310]
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15685
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 60
Thursday, March 30, 2017
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
Forest Service
White River National Forest; Eagle
County; Colorado; Golden Peak
Improvements Project
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
Vail Ski Resort (Vail) has
submitted a proposal to the White River
National Forest (WRNF) for
improvements to ski/snowboard racing
facilities within its Forest Serviceadministered Special User Permit (SUP)
area. The WRNF has accepted this
proposal, and is initiating a National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
analysis to document and disclose
potential impacts. The Proposed Action
includes: Developing 42 acres of new
terrain with associated snowmaking;
installing one lift, two lift operation
shelters, one restroom facility,
snowmaking infrastructure, multiple
small race event buildings, one
equipment storage facility, one fuel
storage facility, and one maintenance
building; and constructing one access
road and multiple drainage management
structures.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by May
1, 2017. The draft environmental impact
statement is expected October 2017 and
the final environmental impact
statement is expected April 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor,
c/o Max Forgensi, Mountain Sports/
Special Uses Administrator, White River
National Forest, P.O. Box 190, Minturn,
CO 81645. Comments may also be sent
via FAX (970) 827–9343. Electronic
comments including attachments can be
submitted to: https://cara.ecosystemmanagement.org/Public//Comment
Input?Project=47937.
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SUMMARY:
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Additional information related to the
proposed project can be found on the
project Web site: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=
47937, or obtained from: Max Forgensi,
Mountain Sports/Special Uses
Administrator, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger
District. Mr. Forgensi can be reached by
phone at (970) 827–5157 or by email at
mforgensi@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
Golden Peak is the primary ski/
snowboard racing and training venue for
Vail and the Ski and Snowboard Club
Vail (SSCV), and provides a world-class
venue for local athletes and
international events. As local, regional,
national, and international groups
continue to seek areas devoted
specifically to ski/snowboard racing and
training, providing a contained venue
with adequate facilities to serve highcaliber events is needed.
Currently, the limited training and
racing space on Golden Peak is unable
to accommodate all users, and many
activities must be held at other locations
on the mountain, resulting in a
disruption to the public’s skiing
experience. There is a need for:
• Developed racing and training
terrain at Vail that meets international
racing standards for women’s Downhill
and men’s Super G courses, a moguls
course, and skier cross course to
adequately meet demand.
• Adequate separation between ski/
snowboard racing and training terrain
and terrain used by the general public
at Vail to improve the quality of both
the training venue and the guest
experience.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action includes the
following elements:
• Lift and Terrain—construction of one
lift (either surface or aerial) and
approximately 42 acres of new ski
trails for women’s Downhill and
men’s Super G courses, moguls course
and skier cross course
• Facilities—construction of lift
operating buildings, race start
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buildings, an equipment storage
building, a fuel storage facility, and a
maintenance building
• Snowmaking and Infrastructure—
construction of infrastructure to
support snowmaking on new ski trails
• Construction Maintenance and
Access—access road for construction
of new lift and ski trails
• Clearing, Grading and Surface
Smoothing—vegetation removal and
surface smoothing/grading for new ski
trails and drainage management
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official is the WRNF
Forest Supervisor.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the
Responsible Official will review the
proposed action, the other alternatives,
and the environmental consequences in
order to decide the following:
• Whether to approve, approve with
modifications, or deny the application
for additional ski area improvements
and associated activities.
• Whether to prescribe conditions
needed for the protection of the
environment on NFS lands.
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. One public open
house regarding this proposal will be
held on April 6, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. at the Forest Service Holy
Cross Office, 24747 US Highway 24,
Minturn, Colorado 81645.
Representatives from the WRNF and
Vail Resort will be present to answer
questions and provide additional
information on this project.
To be most helpful, comments should
be specific to the project area and
should identify resources or effects that
should be considered by the Forest
Service. Submitting timely, specific
written comments during this scoping
period or any other official comment
period establishes standing for filing
objections under 36 CFR parts 218 A
and B.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
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15686
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices
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: March 24, 2017.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2017–06310 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Caribou-Targhee National Forest,
Idaho; John Wood Forest Management
Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Soda Springs Ranger
District proposes to conduct forest
vegetation management activities and
road work in a 5,590-acre project area
within the Wood Canyon and Johnson
Creek drainages located in the CaribouTarghee National Forest, approximately
six miles east of Soda Springs, Idaho.
The project area has a forest vegetation
management emphasis designated in the
Caribou Revised Forest Plan (RFP)
(2003). Overall, the landscape in which
the project area is located has been
identified as being outside of desired
conditions outlined in the RFP with
respect to forest structure and species
composition.
SUMMARY:
Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by May
1, 2017. The draft environmental impact
statement is expected August 2017 and
the final environmental impact
statement is expected October 2017.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Soda Springs Ranger District, 410 East
Hooper Avenue, Soda Springs, ID
83276. Comments may also be sent via
email to comments-intermtn-cariboutarghee-soda-springs@fs.fed.us or via
facsimile to (208) 547–2235.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wayne Beck, Project Leader, (208) 847–
8941. A public scoping letter with more
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DATES:
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details is posted on the forest Web site
(https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/
landmanagement/ projects). In addition,
a copy of the Caribou RFP is available
on the forest Web site (https://
www.fs.usda.gov/main/ctnf/
landmanagement/planning).
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 purpose of the project proposal is
to improve the overall composition,
health and resilience of the forest within
the project area, utilize and improve
timber resources, and improve the
Forest transportation system.
The project proposal is needed
because a fire regime condition class
assessment of the forested landscape
indicated that the landscape qualifies as
Condition Class 2. This means that the
vegetation composition, structure and
fuels have moderate departure from the
natural regime and predispose the
system to risk of loss of key ecosystem
components. Also, the project area is
within a Caribou RFP 5.2 prescription
area. The emphasis in this prescription
area is on scheduled wood-fiber
production, timber growth and yield,
while maintaining or restoring forested
ecosystems (RFP at 4–71). This
prescription area also sets the following
guidelines: [p]ractices to prevent or
control natural disturbances, such as
insects and disease losses and wildfire,
are emphasized. (RFP at 4–72) and
where aspen exists, it should be
maintained or enhanced as a
component through restoration
treatments (RFP at 4–72). Many of the
stands in the project area that were
previously harvested are becoming
overly dense, which impacts growth and
yield and increases risk to forest pests
such as the western spruce budworm.
Finally, there is a need to address the
poor condition and resource concerns of
the existing transportation system
within the project area.
Proposed Action
A combination of vegetation
management activities would occur on
approximately 760 acres. More
specifically, approximately 395 acres
are proposed for selection harvest,
which would require approximately 1.6
miles of temporary road construction to
facilitate the harvest. Additionally,
approximately 365 acres are proposed
for non-harvest stand-tending
treatments (pre-commercial thinning,
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piling, pile burning, jackpot burning
and chopping).
Several different types of road work
are also proposed. The road work is
proposed to meet transportation system
needs for timber removal, resource
needs, and public safety. It is proposed
to reconstruct and improve the
condition of approximately 5.1 miles of
roads within the project area. This
would include activities such as blading
and shaping the road bed, spot
graveling, culvert replacements, and
other minor repairs. Approximately, 2.3
miles of road has been identified as
needing to be relocated to address
resource concerns. These roads will be
located in the same general area, but
large portions will be moved to a new
foot print. Additionally, it is proposed
to construct Road 574 in a more
sustainable location (1.6 miles new
construction), obliterate the previous
location along with several other short
segments of road (2.1 miles), and close
0.3 miles. Development of a gravel pit
within the project area is also be
considered.
Possible Alternatives
The Forest Service would develop
alternatives to the proposed action
based on internal and public scoping
comments and analyze any viable
alternatives in a draft environmental
impact statement.
Responsible Official
Soda Springs District Ranger, Bryan
K. Fuell, is the responsible official.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decisions to be made include
whether to implement the proposed
action, as designed; whether there are
other alternatives capable of satisfying
the purpose and need; and whether any
mitigation measures or monitoring is
required to implement the proposed
action or alternatives. These decisions
would be made in the record of
decision, which would be issued
following the publication of a final
environmental impact statement and
completion of the Forest Service
objection process (36 CFR part 218,
subparts A and B).
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. At this time, no
public meeting will be held. This
decision may be reconsidered
depending on the outcome of scoping.
In addition to this notice of intent, a
legal notice will be published in the
Idaho State Journal, newspaper of
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 60 (Thursday, March 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15685-15686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06310]
========================================================================
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. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 /
Notices
[[Page 15685]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
White River National Forest; Eagle County; Colorado; Golden Peak
Improvements Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Vail Ski Resort (Vail) has submitted a proposal to the White
River National Forest (WRNF) for improvements to ski/snowboard racing
facilities within its Forest Service-administered Special User Permit
(SUP) area. The WRNF has accepted this proposal, and is initiating a
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to document and
disclose potential impacts. The Proposed Action includes: Developing 42
acres of new terrain with associated snowmaking; installing one lift,
two lift operation shelters, one restroom facility, snowmaking
infrastructure, multiple small race event buildings, one equipment
storage facility, one fuel storage facility, and one maintenance
building; and constructing one access road and multiple drainage
management structures.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by May 1, 2017. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
October 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
April 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest
Supervisor, c/o Max Forgensi, Mountain Sports/Special Uses
Administrator, White River National Forest, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, CO
81645. Comments may also be sent via FAX (970) 827-9343. Electronic
comments including attachments can be submitted to: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=47937.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the
proposed project can be found on the project Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47937, or obtained from: Max Forgensi,
Mountain Sports/Special Uses Administrator, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger
District. Mr. Forgensi can be reached by phone at (970) 827-5157 or by
email at mforgensi@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
Golden Peak is the primary ski/snowboard racing and training venue
for Vail and the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV), and provides a
world-class venue for local athletes and international events. As
local, regional, national, and international groups continue to seek
areas devoted specifically to ski/snowboard racing and training,
providing a contained venue with adequate facilities to serve high-
caliber events is needed.
Currently, the limited training and racing space on Golden Peak is
unable to accommodate all users, and many activities must be held at
other locations on the mountain, resulting in a disruption to the
public's skiing experience. There is a need for:
Developed racing and training terrain at Vail that meets
international racing standards for women's Downhill and men's Super G
courses, a moguls course, and skier cross course to adequately meet
demand.
Adequate separation between ski/snowboard racing and
training terrain and terrain used by the general public at Vail to
improve the quality of both the training venue and the guest
experience.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action includes the following elements:
Lift and Terrain--construction of one lift (either surface or
aerial) and approximately 42 acres of new ski trails for women's
Downhill and men's Super G courses, moguls course and skier cross
course
Facilities--construction of lift operating buildings, race
start buildings, an equipment storage building, a fuel storage
facility, and a maintenance building
Snowmaking and Infrastructure--construction of infrastructure
to support snowmaking on new ski trails
Construction Maintenance and Access--access road for
construction of new lift and ski trails
Clearing, Grading and Surface Smoothing--vegetation removal
and surface smoothing/grading for new ski trails and drainage
management
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official is the WRNF Forest Supervisor.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the Responsible Official will review
the proposed action, the other alternatives, and the environmental
consequences in order to decide the following:
Whether to approve, approve with modifications, or deny
the application for additional ski area improvements and associated
activities.
Whether to prescribe conditions needed for the protection
of the environment on NFS lands.
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. One public open
house regarding this proposal will be held on April 6, 2017 from 5:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Forest Service Holy Cross Office, 24747 US
Highway 24, Minturn, Colorado 81645. Representatives from the WRNF and
Vail Resort will be present to answer questions and provide additional
information on this project.
To be most helpful, comments should be specific to the project area
and should identify resources or effects that should be considered by
the Forest Service. Submitting timely, specific written comments during
this scoping period or any other official comment period establishes
standing for filing objections under 36 CFR parts 218 A and B.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in
[[Page 15686]]
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: March 24, 2017.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-06310 Filed 3-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P