[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18459]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 29, 1994]


                                                   VOL. 59, NO. 145

                                              Friday, July 29, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

 

Jackson Hole Ski Area Upgrade and Expansion, Bridger-Teton 
National Forest, Teton County, WY; Intent to Prepare Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement to analyze and disclose the effects of a proposal by the 
Jackson Hole Ski Corporation (JHSC) to update the Master Plan for the 
existing Jackson Hole Ski Area. The Jackson Hole Ski Area is located on 
the Bridger-Teton National Forest within Teton County, Wyoming and is 
presently under a Special Use Permit granted to the JHSC.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analyze should be received 
by September 15, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Chuck Jones, District Ranger, 
Jackson Ranger District, P.O. Box 1689, Jackson, Wyoming 83001. Oral 
comments will also be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Questions regarding the proposed action 
and EIS should be directed to Rick Anderson, Forest Planner, Bridger-
Teton National Forest, Jackson, Wyoming, phone (307) 739-5558.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Jackson Hole Ski Area currently operates 
on the Bridger-Teton National Forest under an existing special use 
permit and approved Master Plan. Jackson Hole Ski Corporation's 
proposal for updating the Master Plan for Jackson Hole Ski Area 
includes the upgrading of existing lifts; the addition of new lifts; 
and the upgrading and expansion of the existing trail network; 
snowmaking capabilities, Nordic facilities, and skier support 
facilities. This proposal would increase Jackson Hole's Ski Area 
comfortable carrying capacity from the present level of 3,500 to 7,690 
skiers. However, this would be less than what is currently approved 
under JHSC's existing Master Plan. All the upgrades and expansions 
proposed on land administered by the FOREST SERVICE would occur within 
Jackson Hole's Ski area existing Ski Area boundary.
    Under the proposal, seven of Jackson Hole's Ski Area existing eight 
chairlifts would be replaced with new equipment and five of these lifts 
would be realigned. In addition, six new lifts, including an out-of 
base gondola, would be added. Together with the lifts, new trails would 
be added to increase the trail network from the present 905.3 acres to 
1,015.7 acres. The upgrading of existing trails would account for 26 of 
the 110.4 acres of new trails. Construction of new trails would account 
for the remaining 84.4 acres. The new acreage will consist of terrain 
for beginner, novice, and intermediate skiers. Furthermore, the Area's 
snowmaking capabilities would be expanded to cover a total of 391.8 
acres. This would be an increase of 325 acres over the existing 
situation.
    Jackson Hole's Ski Area Nordic skiing facility would be upgraded 
and expanded to improve its quality and visibility. The network of 
trails at the facility would be expanded to accommodate a broader range 
of skier ability levels and provide a better diversity of terrain. As a 
result, the trail network may be increased by 7 kilometers to a total 
of 25 kilometers. Skier support facilities also would be upgraded and 
expanded, primarily in the base area at Teton Village. On the mountain, 
the Casper Restaurant would be expanded and three new mountain 
restaurants and visitor facilities would be constructed. The existing 
retail space, rental and repair shop, ski school, daycare facilities, 
administrative and maintenance/operations facilities at the base would 
be expanded and upgraded. Finally, Jackson Hole's Ski Area 
infrastructure would be upgraded and expanded. An additional 2.9 miles 
of roads on the mountain would be added to the existing 13.6 miles of 
roads to provide access to the new lifts and 1,151 parking spaces would 
be added to 1,100 spaces. Finally, utilities would be expanded to the 
new facilities and upgraded to the existing facilities.
    The purpose of and need for JHSC's proposal is to revise and update 
the existing Master Plan to improve the quality of the ski experience 
at Jackson Hole Ski Area while preserving and enhancing the unique 
qualities of the Jackson Hole's Ski Area environs. The improvements 
included in the proposal would enable Jackson Hole Ski Area to respond 
to evolving customer preferences. The need to provide these 
improvements arises from changes in the skiing market and changes in 
Ski Area technology that have occurred since the current Master Plan 
approved.
    The decision to be made is whether or not to approve a Master Plan 
revision for Jackson Hole Ski Area and to assure that any decision made 
is consistent with the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan's direction.
    Preliminary issues associated with this proposal include 
transportation and parking, effects on visual resource, effects on 
hydrology, effects on management of vegetation, and coordination with 
Teton County's Master Planning efforts.
    The FOREST SERVICE invites comments and suggestions on the scope of 
the analysis to be documented in the draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS). In addition, the FOREST SERVICE gives notice that it 
is beginning a full environmental analysis and decison-making process 
for this proposal so that interested or affected people may know how 
they may participate in the environmental analysis and contribute to 
the final decision. A public ``scoping'' meeting is tentatively 
scheduled for AUGUST 16, 1994 in Jackson, Wyoming. The purpose of this 
meeting is to learn what issues and concerns members of the public or 
interested agencies have that are connected to the proposal and should 
be considered. Knowledge of these issues and concerns will help 
establish the scope of the FOREST SERVICE's environmental analysis and 
define the kind and range of alternatives to be considered. The 
proposed action and the process of environmental analysis and 
disclosure to be followed in evaluating this proposal will be described 
and explained. The FOREST SERVICE welcomes any public comments on the 
proposal.
    The responsible Official will be the Forest Supervisor, Bridger-
Teton National Forest, P.O. Box 1888, Jackson, Wyoming, 83001.
    We expect to publish a draft environmental impact statement in 
January 1995, and to complete a final environmental impact statement by 
the end of 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 
contention. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 
519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at 
the draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
after completion of the final environmental impact statement may be 
waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F2d 
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 proposal 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 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. Please note that comments you 
make on the draft environmental impact statement will be regarded as 
public information.
Benjamin T. Worthington,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-18459 Filed 7-28-94; 8:45 am]
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