[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24661]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 5, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Clear
Creek Skiing Corporation's Revised Master Development Plan; Arapaho
National Forest; Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley Ski Areas; Clear
Creek County, CO
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National
Grassland is proposing to determine whether to approve a revision to
the Master Development Plan for Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley Ski
areas. The revision is to the Master Development Plan that was approved
by the Forest Service on March 1, 1997. Loveland Basin and Loveland
Valley ski areas are operated by Clear Creek Skiing Corporation and
located entirely on National Forest System lands. Clear Creek
Corporation was issued a 40-year permit on January 26, 1994 that
included a clause requiring them to complete the Master Development
Plan within 5 years.
The Master Development Plan revision includes new skiing terrain,
two new lifts, additional parking, upgraded base area facilities, lift
replacements, additional snowmaking lines, and a backcountry ski
touring area.
The purpose of the actions proposed by Clear Creek Skiing
Corporation is to provide the highest quality skiing experience by
providing a wide variety of skiing experience, quality base area
facilities, and balanced capacities. Some of the lifts at the ski areas
are twenty years old or older and in need of replacement. The existing
condition indicates a large imbalance of excess trail capacity over
lift capacity.
The replacement of several lifts with fixed-grip quad chairs will
allow for greater life capacities. The addition of two new lifts, and
the addition of new skiing terrain will allow a diversity of experience
for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers. Additional snowmaking
lines will allow for the coverage of high wear areas and for opening
the ski areas early to accommodate large crowds during the holidays.
Many of the facilities at the ski areas are in need of renovation and
expansion to accommodate expected growth.
The proposed action at Loveland Basin ski area is to (1) Replace
three lifts with fixed-grip quad chairs, remove a poma lift, add a new
lift to access 75 acres of difficult and extreme skiing; (2) Glade
terrain to add 18 acres of additional skiing; (3) Add approximately
4,500 linear feet of subgrade piping for snowmaking under two
chairlifts. No additional water diversion is required; (4) Replace,
renovate and/or add to existing facilities including ticket office,
rental and repair shop, retail sales and storage, and improvement of
entry and skier plaza.
The proposed action at Loveland Valley ski area is to (1) Replace
one lift with a fixed-grip quad and add a new fixed-grip quad; (2) Add
71 acres of new terrain for easy and more difficult skiing; (3) Add
snowmaking lines to cover 45 acres of the new terrain; (4) Add a
ticketing and restroom facilities near the proposed new lift and an
addition to the existing lodge for daycare and additional restaurant
seating; (5) Add a 500-car parking lot above the existing eastern
parking lot.
Also proposed is providing guided backcountry skiing into the east
face of Mount Trelease, adjacent to Loveland Basin ski area, located
outside of the permit boundary but in an area designated as 1-B-2 which
provides for potential winter sports sites in the Arapaho and Roosevelt
and Pawnee National Grasslands Forest Plan of 1984.
The purpose of the Environmental Impact Statement is to determine
the environmental effects of the proposed action and of any reasonable
alternative actions that would also achieve the purpose and need while
addressing significant issues raised through public comment and agency
review.
The purpose of this Notice is to inform you that the Forest
Service, with the assistance of a third party contractor, is soliciting
your comments and concerns about this proposed action.
The environmental analysis and decision-making process will include
opportunities for public participation and comment so that people
interested in this proposal may contribute to the final decision.
The Forest Service is now seeking written comments and suggestions
on the scope of the analysis. Comments relevant to scoping include: (1)
Identifying potential issues, (2) identifying those issues to be
analyzed in depth, (3) eliminating insignificant issues, (4)
identifying additional alternatives to the proposed action that should
be considered; (5) identifying potential environmental effects on the
proposed action and alternatives. General notice to the public
concerning the scope of the analysis will be provided by mailings, news
releases and a field trip.
DATES: Comments related to the scope of the analysis should be received
by October 31, 1994 to ensure timely consideration.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions to Corey P. Wong,
District Ranger, Clear Creek Ranger District, 101 Chicago Creek, P.O.
Box 3307, Idaho Springs, Colorado, 80452.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sue Greenley, Project Coordinator, Clear Creek Ranger District, 101
Chicago Creek, P.O. Box 3307, Idaho Springs, Colorado, 80452, (303)
567-2901.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley ski areas
have operated under special use permit since 1937 on National Forest
System lands administered by the Arapaho and Roosevelt National
Forests. The permit covers 2,300 acres of National Forest System land,
the area where these projects are proposed.
The ski areas operate in accordance with the Master Development
Plan that was approved by the Forest Service on March 1, 1977. Specific
operations on National Forest Service lands are authorized under a
special use permit issued by the Forest Service on January 26, 1994.
The proposed action is consistent with the long-range goals for
this area as defined in the Land and Resource Management Plan for the
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland,
approved on May 4, 1984. Under that Forest Plan, the area encompassed
by Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley ski areas is assigned to
management under prescription 1B-1. This management prescription
provides management emphasis for the provision of downhill skiing on
existing downhill sites. The purpose of prescription 1B-1 is to
integrate ski area development and use with other resource management
to provide healthy tree stands, vegetative diversity, forage production
for wildlife and livestock, and opportunities for nonmotorized
recreation.
The proposed area for guided backcountry skiing, adjacent to
Loveland Basin ski area, is assigned to management under prescription
1B-2. This management prescription provides for potential winter sports
sites. The purpose of prescription 1B-2 is for these sites to be
maintained for future downhill skiing recreation opportunities and
recreation opportunities focus on dispersed recreation uses. Vegetation
treatment focuses on perpetuating a healthy forest. The Forest Service
does not anticipate the need for any amendments to the Land and
Resource Management Plan as a result of this proposal.
A range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action will be
considered in the analysis. Reasonable alternatives are those which
fulfill the purpose and need for the proposals and address significant
issues that are identified during the scoping process. The only
specific alternative that has been identified at this time is the ``no
action'' alternative. If the ``no action'' alternative is selected, the
proposed project would not take place at this time.
The analysis will address major issues and concerns about the
proposed action and alternatives and will disclose the direct and
indirect impacts related to those issues. The following tentative
issues have been identified: (1) Impacts to wetlands and floodplains;
(2) Impacts to water quality; (3) Impacts to threatened and endangered
species; (4) Impacts to visual quality; (5) Impacts to downhill skiers.
It is anticipated that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
will be published by November 30, 1994. The Final Environmental Impact
Statement will be completed in March, 1995.
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 US 519, 533
(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 (9th
Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334 (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 45 day comment period so that substantive comments and
objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it
can meaningfully 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 of Environmental Quality regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Dated: September 22, 1994.
Corey P. Wong,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 94-24661 Filed 10-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
