[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24661]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 5, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

 

Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Clear 
Creek Skiing Corporation's Revised Master Development Plan; Arapaho 
National Forest; Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley Ski Areas; Clear 
Creek County, CO

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National 
Grassland is proposing to determine whether to approve a revision to 
the Master Development Plan for Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley Ski 
areas. The revision is to the Master Development Plan that was approved 
by the Forest Service on March 1, 1997. Loveland Basin and Loveland 
Valley ski areas are operated by Clear Creek Skiing Corporation and 
located entirely on National Forest System lands. Clear Creek 
Corporation was issued a 40-year permit on January 26, 1994 that 
included a clause requiring them to complete the Master Development 
Plan within 5 years.
    The Master Development Plan revision includes new skiing terrain, 
two new lifts, additional parking, upgraded base area facilities, lift 
replacements, additional snowmaking lines, and a backcountry ski 
touring area.
    The purpose of the actions proposed by Clear Creek Skiing 
Corporation is to provide the highest quality skiing experience by 
providing a wide variety of skiing experience, quality base area 
facilities, and balanced capacities. Some of the lifts at the ski areas 
are twenty years old or older and in need of replacement. The existing 
condition indicates a large imbalance of excess trail capacity over 
lift capacity.
    The replacement of several lifts with fixed-grip quad chairs will 
allow for greater life capacities. The addition of two new lifts, and 
the addition of new skiing terrain will allow a diversity of experience 
for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers. Additional snowmaking 
lines will allow for the coverage of high wear areas and for opening 
the ski areas early to accommodate large crowds during the holidays. 
Many of the facilities at the ski areas are in need of renovation and 
expansion to accommodate expected growth.
    The proposed action at Loveland Basin ski area is to (1) Replace 
three lifts with fixed-grip quad chairs, remove a poma lift, add a new 
lift to access 75 acres of difficult and extreme skiing; (2) Glade 
terrain to add 18 acres of additional skiing; (3) Add approximately 
4,500 linear feet of subgrade piping for snowmaking under two 
chairlifts. No additional water diversion is required; (4) Replace, 
renovate and/or add to existing facilities including ticket office, 
rental and repair shop, retail sales and storage, and improvement of 
entry and skier plaza.
    The proposed action at Loveland Valley ski area is to (1) Replace 
one lift with a fixed-grip quad and add a new fixed-grip quad; (2) Add 
71 acres of new terrain for easy and more difficult skiing; (3) Add 
snowmaking lines to cover 45 acres of the new terrain; (4) Add a 
ticketing and restroom facilities near the proposed new lift and an 
addition to the existing lodge for daycare and additional restaurant 
seating; (5) Add a 500-car parking lot above the existing eastern 
parking lot.
    Also proposed is providing guided backcountry skiing into the east 
face of Mount Trelease, adjacent to Loveland Basin ski area, located 
outside of the permit boundary but in an area designated as 1-B-2 which 
provides for potential winter sports sites in the Arapaho and Roosevelt 
and Pawnee National Grasslands Forest Plan of 1984.
    The purpose of the Environmental Impact Statement is to determine 
the environmental effects of the proposed action and of any reasonable 
alternative actions that would also achieve the purpose and need while 
addressing significant issues raised through public comment and agency 
review.
    The purpose of this Notice is to inform you that the Forest 
Service, with the assistance of a third party contractor, is soliciting 
your comments and concerns about this proposed action.
    The environmental analysis and decision-making process will include 
opportunities for public participation and comment so that people 
interested in this proposal may contribute to the final decision.
    The Forest Service is now seeking written comments and suggestions 
on the scope of the analysis. Comments relevant to scoping include: (1) 
Identifying potential issues, (2) identifying those issues to be 
analyzed in depth, (3) eliminating insignificant issues, (4) 
identifying additional alternatives to the proposed action that should 
be considered; (5) identifying potential environmental effects on the 
proposed action and alternatives. General notice to the public 
concerning the scope of the analysis will be provided by mailings, news 
releases and a field trip.

DATES: Comments related to the scope of the analysis should be received 
by October 31, 1994 to ensure timely consideration.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions to Corey P. Wong, 
District Ranger, Clear Creek Ranger District, 101 Chicago Creek, P.O. 
Box 3307, Idaho Springs, Colorado, 80452.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sue Greenley, Project Coordinator, Clear Creek Ranger District, 101 
Chicago Creek, P.O. Box 3307, Idaho Springs, Colorado, 80452, (303) 
567-2901.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley ski areas 
have operated under special use permit since 1937 on National Forest 
System lands administered by the Arapaho and Roosevelt National 
Forests. The permit covers 2,300 acres of National Forest System land, 
the area where these projects are proposed.
    The ski areas operate in accordance with the Master Development 
Plan that was approved by the Forest Service on March 1, 1977. Specific 
operations on National Forest Service lands are authorized under a 
special use permit issued by the Forest Service on January 26, 1994.
    The proposed action is consistent with the long-range goals for 
this area as defined in the Land and Resource Management Plan for the 
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland, 
approved on May 4, 1984. Under that Forest Plan, the area encompassed 
by Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley ski areas is assigned to 
management under prescription 1B-1. This management prescription 
provides management emphasis for the provision of downhill skiing on 
existing downhill sites. The purpose of prescription 1B-1 is to 
integrate ski area development and use with other resource management 
to provide healthy tree stands, vegetative diversity, forage production 
for wildlife and livestock, and opportunities for nonmotorized 
recreation.
    The proposed area for guided backcountry skiing, adjacent to 
Loveland Basin ski area, is assigned to management under prescription 
1B-2. This management prescription provides for potential winter sports 
sites. The purpose of prescription 1B-2 is for these sites to be 
maintained for future downhill skiing recreation opportunities and 
recreation opportunities focus on dispersed recreation uses. Vegetation 
treatment focuses on perpetuating a healthy forest. The Forest Service 
does not anticipate the need for any amendments to the Land and 
Resource Management Plan as a result of this proposal.
    A range of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action will be 
considered in the analysis. Reasonable alternatives are those which 
fulfill the purpose and need for the proposals and address significant 
issues that are identified during the scoping process. The only 
specific alternative that has been identified at this time is the ``no 
action'' alternative. If the ``no action'' alternative is selected, the 
proposed project would not take place at this time.
    The analysis will address major issues and concerns about the 
proposed action and alternatives and will disclose the direct and 
indirect impacts related to those issues. The following tentative 
issues have been identified: (1) Impacts to wetlands and floodplains; 
(2) Impacts to water quality; (3) Impacts to threatened and endangered 
species; (4) Impacts to visual quality; (5) Impacts to downhill skiers.
    It is anticipated that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
will be published by November 30, 1994. The Final Environmental Impact 
Statement will be completed in March, 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 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp v. NRDC 435 US 519, 533 
(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 (9th 
Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 
1334 (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 of Environmental Quality regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

    Dated: September 22, 1994.
Corey P. Wong,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 94-24661 Filed 10-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M