[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 36024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17445]
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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,
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Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 132 / Tuesday, July 9, 1996 /
Notices
[[Page 36024]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)
SUMMARY: The Salt Lake Ranger District, of the Wasatch-Cache National
Forest, will prepare an EIS on Brighton Ski Resort's (Brighton)
proposal to update their Master Development Plan.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing by August 9, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Michael Sieg, District Ranger, 3000
East 6944 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Scheid, Environmental Analyst, (801) 943-9483.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Brighton is proposing to update their Master
Development Plan. This update includes the following elements: upgrade
the Snake Creek lift to a high-speed detachable Quad, construct a new
transportation lift between Solitude Ski Resort and Brighton, modify
existing ski trails, which include rock and stump removal and terrain
grading, expand night skiing opportunities, construct new mid-mountain
lodge at the base of the Snake Creek Lift, expand current snowmaking
facilities, and expand the existing hiking and biking trail systems. A
complete description of the proposal and its elements is available from
the Salt Lake Ranger District.
Brighton will be required to obtain an amendment of water supply
permit agreement from Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities and
a Water Change Application from the Utah Department of Natural
Resources, Division of Water Rights, State Engineer. They will also be
required to obtain all necessary building and construction permits from
Salt Lake County.
A scoping document has been sent to more than 600 individuals,
organizations and government agencies, detailing Brighton's proposal
for the next planning period. Preliminary issues identified by the
interdisciplinary team include effects of the proposed action on:
visual quality, run quality, year-round recreation experiences, wetland
and riparian areas, water quality and quantity, vegetation, fish and
wildlife, traffic and parking in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and threatened,
endangered and sensitive species.
Two preliminary alternatives have been identified: (1) the proposed
action which would permit the aforementioned projects and require
Brighton to convert to a new Ski Area Term Special Use Permit, and (2)
the No Action alternative which would continue the use as currently
permitted with no new improvements.
The public is invited to submit comments or suggestions to the
address above. This public comment period does not replace the initial
public comment period. All comments received to date will be included
in the EIS. We are seeking new issues, comments and suggestions. The
responsible official is Bernie Weingardt, Forest Supervisor. A draft
EIS is expected to be filed in May, 1997 and the final EIS filed in
September 1997.
The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date
the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of availability appears in
the Federal Register. It is very important that those interested in
this proposed action participate at that time. To be the most helpful,
comments on the draft EIS should be as specific as possible and may
address the adequacy of the statement or the merits of the alternatives
discussed (see The Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for
implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental
Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3).
In addition, Federal court decisions have established that
reviewers of draft EIS's must structure their participation in the
environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and
alerts an agency to the reviews' position and contentions. Vermont
Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 533 (1978).
Environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft stage
may be waived if not raised until after completion of the final EIS.
City of Angoon v. Hodel, (9th Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages,
Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). The reason
for this is to ensure 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.
Dated: July 2, 1996.
Steven W. Scheid,
District Environmental Analyst.
[FR Doc. 96-17445 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am]
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