[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27007-27008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12851]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort Master Development Plan, Wasatch-
Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District, Salt Lake County, 
Utah and Uinta National Forest, Pleasant Grove Ranger District, Utah 
County, Utah

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement on Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort's proposed master 
development plan.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by June 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Michael Sieg, District Ranger, 6944 
South 3000 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Cruz, District Environmental 
Coordinator, (801) 943-9483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, a ``Special 
Use Permit'' permittee is proposing to update its master plan. Much of 
the resort's permitted boundary lies on National Forest System Land. 
This proposal includes elements on both public and private lands. 
Public land elements include the following: upgrade the Big Emma NASTAR 
course; regrade and asphalt the Gad Valley parking lot; construct a new 
day lodge facility in the lower Gad Valley; upgrade the skier services 
facilities on Hidden Peak with a multi-use structure; add additional 
snowmaking capacity which would be completed in three phases and total 
approximately 110 acres; construct a new Gad III Chairlift; upgrade the 
Little Cloud Chairlift to a fixed-grip quad; implement a vegetation 
management plan; regrade portions of the following ski trails: Middle 
Bassackwards, Madam Annie, ski access to upper Big Emma, Upper 
Regulator intermediate route, Big Emma creek crossing, and Modify the 
Blackjack Road: construct the following summer trails: Extension to the 
barrier-free trail; trails that would augment existing trails on both 
sides of Hidden Peak; construct an access road to the top station of 
the Gad III lift; construct ski trails associated with the God III 
chairlift; improve skier access from Hidden Peak into Peruvian Gulch 
and Mineral Basin.
    The following private land elements are also included in this 
proposal; construct a quad lift and fixed-grip double in Mineral Basin; 
develop, improve or maintain the following trails and roads: Chips 
Switchback; Lower Men's Downhill Chute; South Ridge widening; construct 
new ski trails in Mineral Basin; a snowcat route from the top of Little 
Cloud lift down into Mineral Basin; Mineral Basin access tunnel/road; 
alter a rock chute in Mineral Basin and install three avalauncher 
platforms in Mineral Basin. Associated with the Mineral Basin 
expansion, the special use permit would be expanded to include portions 
of the Uinta National Forest. A complete description of the proposal 
and its elements is available from the Salt Lake Ranger District.
    In addition to obtaining a new Ski Area Term Special Use Permit 
from the Forest Service, Snowbird may also be required to obtain a 
Department of Army 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers and 
consult with the Environmental Protection Agency. They may also be 
required to obtain an amendment of water supply permit agreement from 
Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities.
    A scoping document will be sent to over 750 individuals, 
organizations and government agencies on May 16, 1997, explaining the 
decision to conduct an environmental impact statement, and soliciting 
comments. Comments received from scoping documents on Snowbird's Three 
and Five-year plans will be included in this analysis. Two public 
meetings will be held during the scoping period: June 2, 1997 at the 
Hampton Inn (10690 South, 160 West) in Sandy, Utah, and June 3, at the 
Lehi Public Library, 120 Center Street, Lehi, Utah. Both meetings will 
run from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Preliminary issues identified by the 
Forest Service interdisciplinary team include effects on visual 
quality, effects on wetland and riparian areas, effects on water 
quality and quantity, effects on vegetation diversity, effects on fish 
and wildlife, effects on traffic and parking in Little Cottonwood 
Canyon, recreational conflicts and effects on threatened, endangered 
and sensitive species. Two preliminary alternatives have been 
identified. The proposed action alternative would permit the 
aforementioned projects and require Snowbird to convert to a new Ski 
Area Term Special Use Permit. The No Action alternative would continue 
the use as currently permitted with no new facilities.
    The public is invited to submit comments or suggestions to the 
address above. Comments received from individuals, groups and 
government agencies received from the September 1993 and May 1995 
scoping documents will be incorporated into this analysis. The 
responsible officials are Bernie Weingardt and Peter Karp, Forest 
Supervisors. A draft EIS is anticipated to be filed in May 1998 and the 
final EIS filed in November 1998.
    The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will 
be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency's

[[Page 27008]]

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 environmental 
impact statement should be as specific as possible and may address the 
adequacy of the statements 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 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 reviewers' 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 environmental impact statement. 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: May 8, 1997.
Michael Sieg,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 97-12851 Filed 5-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M