[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63024-63025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30066]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Keystone Resort, Jones Gulch Development; White River National
Forest, Summit County, Colorado
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects from the
development of the Jones Gulch ski pod at Keystone Resort. Development
will be confined to Keystone Resort's existing Special Use Permit
boundary. The proposed actions to construct lifts, trails, snowmaking,
and associated service roads are being considered together because they
represent either connected or cumulative actions as defined by the
Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.25).
The Forest Service is evaluating a proposal, submitted by Keystone
Resort, which is consistent with forest management direction for ski
areas. The purposes of the project are to address the following needs:
(1) To improve skier/snowboarder distribution and reduce trail
densities on the front side of Keystone Mountain by providing
additional intermediate and advanced terrain on the front side of
Keystone Mountain; (2) to improve ingress and egress and reduce out-of-
base congestion by adding another portal at
[[Page 63025]]
Jones Gulch; (3) to meet existing and anticipated skier demand through
development of infrastructure consistent with advances in equipment,
lift technology, and consumer preference; (4) to address some existing
environmental concerns associated with historic activities and existing
development. The EIS will tier to the White River National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and Final EIS of September
20, 1984, which provides overall guidance for ski area management of
the area. All activities associated with the proposal will be designed
to maintain high quality resource objectives.
DATES: Written comments and suggestions should be postmarked or
received by the Dillon Ranger District no later than 30 days after the
publication of this notice. Send comments to Michael Liu, Attn:
Keystone, Dillon Ranger District, P.O. Box 620, Silverthorne, Colorado,
80498, fax (970) 468-7735.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Michael Liu, Special Projects
Coordinator, Dillon Ranger District, phone (970) 262-3440.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action includes construction of
facilities entirely within Keystone Resort's Special Use Permit area.
These facilities have been conceptually approved through previous
National Environmental Policy Act analysis of the Resort's Master
Development Plan (MDP). Specific elements of the proposed action
include: Approximately 125 acres of trail construction, approximately
95 acres of additional snowmaking coverage, construction of three
chair-lifts and one surface-lift, and construction of required service
roads.
The project area is located on National Forest System lands within
sections 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, Township 5 South, Range 76 West of
the 6th P.M., all within Summit County, Colorado. Keystone Resort is
located approximately 70 miles west of Denver, Colorado.
These improvements are consistent with Forest Plan and Regional
Guide direction, and are considered necessary in light of current
resort deficiencies, increased visitation experienced over the past
decade, and projected future visitation increases. The proposed
analysis will provide additional site-specific detail for portions of
the existing MDP to accommodate changing socio-economic and
environmental considerations, and may modify previous approvals shown
in the MDP to avoid wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified forest fragmentation and effects to:
Wildlife, wetlands, water quality, mountain hydrology, geological
stability, and the relationship of the project to future development of
adjacent real estate. Additional issues will be identified during the
scoping process.
Public Involvement and Scoping
Analysis of this proposal was originally planned under an
Environmental Assessment (EA). After further study and additional
information from resource specialists, the Forest Service has decided
to prepare an EIS. Public scoping was conducted for the EA during
October and November of 1997 through newspaper articles, letters to
interested parties and two open houses. Comments previously submitted
as part of the EA scoping process will be included in the documentation
for the EIS and will be used to focus analysis and develop
alternatives. Interested groups and individuals that have previously
commented as part of the EA scoping process will be retained on the
project mailing list.
The project proposal has been modified since originally submitted
by Keystone Resort. The proposed Ski Tip Return Trail has been removed
and one chairlift has been added to the proposal.
This environmental analysis and decision making process will enable
additional interested and affected people to participate and contribute
to the final decision. The Forest Service will seek information,
comments, and assistance identifying issues from Federal, State, local
agencies, federally recognized Native American tribes, and other
individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by
the proposal.
Completion of the draft EIS is anticipated during the late winter
or spring of 1999. The final EIS should be completed some time during
the late summer or fall of 1999. The comment period on the draft EIS
will be 90 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the ``Notice of Availability'' in the Federal Register.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official for this project is Martha Ketelle, Forest
Supervisor for the White River National Forest. The Responsible
Official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the
Record of Decision issued concurrently with the release of the final
EIS. That decision will be subject to appeal under 36 CFR 215.
Dated: November 3, 1998.
Martha Ketelle,
Forest Supervisor, White River National Forest.
[FR Doc. 98-30066 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
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