[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 238 (Friday, December 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68426-68427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32951]
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 238 / Friday, December 11, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 68426]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort Master Development Plan Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest--Union, Baker and Grant Counties, Oregon
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort's (ALMR) proposed
Master Development Plan (MDP). The proposed development includes
construction of one new chairlift, relocation of the existing handle
tow and replacement with a short chairlift, and construction of one new
surface lift. In addition, the proposed MDP includes the addition of
approximately 1.2 acres of ski terrain, renovation of the day lodge,
construction of a small on-mountain food services facility, enlargement
of parking areas by 2.4 acres, an addition to the maintenance shop,
construction of a snowmobile rental and staging area, and other
utilities and infrastructure required to support resort upgrades.
The agency gives notice of the full environmental analysis and
decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so that
interested and affected people may become aware of how they may
participate and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
by January 11, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposal to Charles L.
Ernst, District Ranger, 3165 10th Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814.
Fax: 5(41) 523-1965.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Charles L. Ernst,
District Ranger, 3165 10th Street, Baker city, Oregon 97814. Phone
(541) 523-4476.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would increase the year-
round recreational opportunities within the existing Special Use Permit
Boundary (2,046 acres). Implementation of the proposed MDP would
increase the Comfortable Carrying Capacity (CCC) from 600 Skiers-At-
One-Time (SAOT) to 1,200 SAOT.
Presently, alpine skiing/snowboarding and other resort activities
are provided to the public through a Special Use Permit (SUP) issued by
the Forest Service and administered by the Wallowa-Whitman National
Forest (WWNF).
Purpose and Need: To resolve existing operational deficiencies at
ALMR. To meet public expectations for quality recreational experiences
through the improvements proposed at ALMR in the MDP.
The purpose of the proposed action and alternatives considered is
to equip ALMR with the necessary base area and on-mountain amenities to
meet current and anticipated future demand for alpine recreation and
the expectations of the skiing public on the WWNF at ALMR. The specific
proposed improvements are oriented toward the rehabilitation of the
resort by rectifying existing deficiencies and providing a resort-wide
balance of capacities. In addition, the proposed action would provide
financial stability and growth potential to ALMR, while respecting
natural resources and other issues of importance to the Forest Service
and the public, thereby insuring that ALMR provides the public with a
quality recreational experience with the implementation of the MDP and
into the future.
Review and analysis of the relevant national and local market data
indicate there is an ever-increasing level of customer awareness of
quality, service, and value in the ski experience. Progressive ski
areas have catered to the changing demands of the skier population by
providing quality accommodations, a heightened service orientation, a
refined, and technologically improved ski experience, and other
recreational amenities. Ski areas that have invested in faster and more
comfortable ski lifts, snowmaking capabilities, terrain expansion, and
increased trail grooming have created higher expectation of quality and
service among the skiing public. ALMR competes with other ski areas in
the local and regional marketplace, the majority of which have recently
made or are in the process of undertaking substantial facilities
improvements. Conversely, declines in capital investment for facilities
upgrades at ALMR have led to erosion of market share and may eventually
lead to a decline in skier visitation. The need for the proposed action
is generally demonstrated by the stagnation of skier visitation to ALMR
over the past decade and evidence of significant export of skier visits
to other ski resorts, particularly outside the local market. Stagnant
visitation has occurred despite population growth in the local market
area. On this basis, actions proposed under the MDP are necessary for
ALMR to remain competitive, and to provide the level of customer
service expected by the skiing public and the Agency.
The Proposed Action: The proposed action would increase
recreational opportunities within the existing SUP area (2,046 acres).
Implementation of the proposed MDP would increase the CCC from 600 SAOT
to 1,200 SAOT. The proposed development includes: construction of one
new chairlift; replacement of the handle tow with a short chairlift;
construction of one new surface lift; addition of approximately 1.2
acres of ski terrain; expansion of the existing day lodge; construction
of a small on mountain food service facility; seasonal use of a yurt
(circular tent); snowmobile rental and staging facility to support
ongoing public use of National Forest System lands to the north of the
resort; a 2.4 acre expansion of parking areas; expansion of the
maintenance facility and other utilities and infrastructure required to
support the proposed MDP.
Management Direction: The proposed MDP tiers to the Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as
amended. The ALMR SUP area is located within Management Area 16--
Administrative and Recreation Site Retention. Although alpine and
downhill skiing are not directly addressed in the Forest Plan,
pertinent direction is presented on pages 4-92 and 4-93. For a more
detailed
[[Page 68427]]
description of Management Area 16, refer to the Forest Plan.
Public Involvement: Public Involvement will be especially important
at several points during the analysis, beginning with the scoping
process. The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, and
assistance from Federal, State, local agencies, tribes and other
individuals or organizations who may be interested in, or affected by
the proposals. The scoping process includes:
1. Identifying and clarifying issues.
2. Identifying key issues to be analyzed in depth.
3. Exploring alternatives based on themes which will be derived
from issues recognized during scoping activities.
4. Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposals and
alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and
connected actions).
5. Determining potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.
6. Developing a list of interested people to keep apprised of
opportunities to participate through meetings, personal contacts, or
written comments.
7. Developing a means of informing the public through the media
and/or written material (e.g., newsletters, correspondence, etc.).
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposed action and will be available for public
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Part 215 or
217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request
the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing
how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality.
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the
FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited
circumstances, such as to protest trade secrets. The Forest Service
will inform the requestor of the agency's decision regarding the
request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the
agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the
comments may be resubmitted with or without names and addresses within
thirty (30) days.
Public comments are appreciated throughout the analysis process.
The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) in October 1999 and will be available for public review at
that time. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the
date the EPA publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal
Register. The final EIS is scheduled for completion in April of 2000.
The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers
notice of this early stage of public participation and of several court
rulings related to public participation in the environmental review
process. First, reviewers of the draft EIS must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's positions and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could have been raised
at the draft stage may be waived or dismissed by the court if not
raised until after the completion of the final EIS. City of Angoon v.
Hodel, 803 f.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages,
Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (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 comment period so
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider and respond to them
in the final EIS.
In the final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to
substantive comments and responses received during the comment period
that pertain to the environmental consequences discussed in the draft
EIS and applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making
a decision regarding the proposal. The responsible official is Karyn L.
Wood, Forest Supervisor for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The
responsible official will document the decision and reasons for the
decision in the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to
appeal under 36 CFR part 215 or part 251.
Dated: December 2, 1998.
Kurt R. Wiedenmann,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
[FR Doc. 98-32951 Filed 12-10-98; 8:45 am]
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