[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20024]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 

Hoodoo Ski Bowl Master Plan, Willamette National Forest, Linn 
County, OR

agency: Forest Service, USDA.

action: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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summary: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on the proposed Master Plan for Hoodoo Ski Bowl to be 
submitted by Hoodoo Ski Bowl, Inc. The need for a new Master Plan for 
Hoodoo Ski Bowl ski area is to replace the current Master Plan which 
was approved April 23, 1980. The current plan expires in December 1995. 
The Willamette National Forest invites written comments on the scope of 
the analysis and decision making process for the proposal so interested 
and affected people may participate and contribute to the final 
decision.

dates: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by October 1, 1994.

addresses: Send written comments to Phil Raab, District Recreation 
Assistant, McKenzie Ranger District, McKenzie Bridge, Oregon 97413.

for further information contact: Phil Raab, District Recreation 
Assistant, (503) 822-3381.

supplementary information: The USDA, Forest Service, proposal is to 
prepare an environmental impact statement in order to review, modify, 
and approve a Master Plan for Hoodoo Ski Area located on the McKenzie 
Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest in Linn County, 
Oregon. The preparation of the Master Plan and EIS will take place 
concurrently.
    Governmental agencies and the public who may be interested in or 
affected by the proposal are invited to participate in the scoping 
process. The Forest Service will hold five formal public scoping 
meetings: Tuesday, Aug. 16, 1994, at the Shilo Inn, Bend, Oregon at 7 
PM; Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1994, at the Sisters Firehall, Sisters, Oregon 
at 7 PM; Thursday, Aug. 18, 1994, at the Springfield Red Lion Inn, 
Springfield, Oregon at 7 PM; Tuesday, Aug. 23, 1994, at the Bureau of 
Land Management Office, Salem, Oregon at 7 PM; and Wednesday, Aug. 24 
at Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, Oregon at 7 PM. Preliminary 
ideas prepared by the proponents will be available for public review. 
Further meetings may be planned at a later date. Due to budgetary and 
organizational uncertainties the Forest Service anticipates two 
possibilities for the preparation of the EIS; preparation by the Forest 
Service or by a third party company. This decision is expected by 
October 1, 1994.
    The EIS will consider a range of alternatives based on the issues 
and concerns associated with the project. Only one alternative can be 
specified at present, the No Action alternative. Other alternatives may 
consist of modifications or changes in the various elements comprising 
the proposal.
    The draft EIS will tier to the 1990 Final EIS for the Willamette 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as amended by the 
Record of Decision for Amendment to Forest Service and Bureau of Land 
Management Planning Documents Within the Range of the Northern Spotted 
Owl. The Forest Service is the lead agency.
    The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review in March of 
1995. At that time, copies of the draft EIS will be distributed to 
interested and affected agencies, organizations, and members of the 
public for their review and comment. EPA will publish a notice of 
availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. 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 Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice at this early stage 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 U.S. 519. 
553 (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, 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 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 on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.).
    The final EIS is scheduled to be completed in July 1995. In the 
final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to 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 the decision 
regarding the Hoodoo Ski Bowl Master Plan. Darrel L. Kenops, Forest 
Supervisor, is the Responsible Official. As the Responsible Official, 
he will decide whether to implement the Master Plan. The Responsible 
Official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the 
Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service 
Appeal Regulations (36 CFR Part 215).

    Dated: August 8, 1994.
Harold A. Legard,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-20024 Filed 8-15-94; 8:45 am]
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