[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32286-32287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15484]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Bridger Bowl Ski Area Permit Renewal and Master Plan Update 
Gallatin National Forest, Gallatin County, Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of work planned 
to be accomplished over the next 10-15 years at Bridger Bowl ski area 
which includes expansion of the existing facilities to improve beginner 
skier terrain; increase skier opportunities on the mountain; improve 
parking facilities and increase snow making capacity. The proposal 
would expand the ski area boundary to the north into the Bradley Meadow 
and Northwest Passage areas and expand the ski area boundary to the 
south into the Pine-Slushman area. Several new runs would be developed 
as well as two surface lifts to the ridge and two new chair lifts. 
Existing chair lifts would be reconfigured and/or replaced. The base 
area would be expanded and sewage facilities upgraded.
    Implementation of the proposal would require a Forest Plan 
amendment to change the land management allocation for the area 
adjacent to the existing ski area from a semi-primitive recreation and 
wildlife habitat emphasis to a developed winter recreation (ski area) 
emphasis.

DATES: Written comments and suggestions should be received on or before 
July 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions on the proposed 
management activities or a request to be placed on the project mailing 
list to Gene Gibson, District Ranger, Bozeman Ranger District, Gallatin 
National Forest, 3710 Fallon St, Suite C, Bozeman, Montana, 59718-1911.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Nancy Halstrom, EIS Team Leader, Bozeman Ranger District, Gallatin 
National Forest, Phone (406) 587-6920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bridger Bowl ski area is located in Bridger 
Canyon about 16 miles northeast of Bozeman, Montana. The area is 
operated by the Bridger Bowl Corporation, a non-profit Montana 
corporation. Bridger Bowl owns about 326 acres of the lower mountain; 
is in the process of procuring 120 acres of land it has leased from the 
State of Montana; and is authorized through a special use permit to use 
about 1,153 acres of national forest land for recreational skiing 
purposes.
    Skiing began in the early 1940's by local enthusiasts from the 
Bozeman area. In 1950, the State of Montana acquired 120 acres of 
private land to be used in conjunction with the ski area. By 1952, the 
local residents had organized and constructed the first commercial rope 
tow and base lodge with volunteer help and private donations. The non-
profit corporation was organized in 1954 to maintain and operate the 
ski area. It was originally known as the Bozeman State Park Recreation 
Association. The Forest Service issued the first special use permit for 
the ski area in 1954. The ski area has grown to sevel lifts and about 
600 acres of developed ski trails.
    Bridger Bowl Inc. has submitted a Master Plan proposal to the 
Gallatin National Forest which covers their plans for continuation of 
their special use authorization to operate on national forest lands. 
The Master Plan includes a series of work divided into three phases to 
be accomplished over the next 10-15 years.
    The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of 
these will be the ``no action'' alternative, in which none of the 
proposed activities would be implemented. Additional alternatives will 
examine varying levels and locations for the proposed activities to 
achieve the proposal's purposes, as well as to respond to the issues 
and other resources values.
    The EIS will analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental effects of the alternatives. Past, present, and projected 
activities on both private and National Forest lands will be 
considered. The EIS will disclose the analysis of site-specific 
mitigation measures and their effectiveness.
    Public participation is an important part of the analysis, 
commencing with the initial scoping process (40 CFR 1501.7), which will 
occur June 1997 to July 1997. In addition, the public is encouraged to 
visit with Forest Service officials at any time during the analysis and 
prior to the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking information, 
comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and 
other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected 
by the proposed action. The proposed will be presented at two Open 
Houses at the Bozeman Ranger Distrct Office on Monday, June 23. The 
representatives will be at 3:00 pm and at 7:00 pm. Representatives from 
Bridger Bowl Inc. and the Gallatin National Forest will be available at 
the open house to discuss the proposed project and provide additional 
information.
    Comments from the public and other agencies will be used to 
preparation of the Draft EIS. The scoping process will be used to:
    1. Identify potential issues.
    2. Identify major issues to be analyzed in depth.

[[Page 32287]]

    3. Eliminate minor issues or those which have been covered by a 
relevant previous environmental analysis, such as the Gallatin Forest 
Plan EIS.
    4. Identify alternatives to the proposed action.
    5. Identify potential environmental effects of the proposed action 
and alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects).
    6. Determine potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.
    The following preliminary issues have been identified so far:
     Potential effects to changes in sediment yield and channel 
stability associated with the proposed new construction.
     Potential impacts to Yellowstone Cutthroat trout habitat 
in the South Fork of Brackett Creek due to potential changes in 
sediment delivery.
     Potential impacts to the primitive characteristics of the 
inventoried Bridger roadless area which surrounds the current ski area 
to the south, north, and west. The proposal includes the development of 
ski lifts and ski trails adjacent to and within this area.
     The proposal includes additional ski runs and lifts in the 
Pine-Slushman area to the south of the current ski area and additional 
ski runs and lifts to the north. This proposal has the potential to 
change the existing visual condition as observed from various locations 
in the Bridger canyon.
     The proposal includes expanded season of use. The use 
pattern of the national forest road and trails within the permitted 
area may be affected.
     Potential effects to the adjacent cross-country ski trail 
system authorized on national forest land.
     Effects to the traffic patterns and potential increase on 
the highway to the ski area and it's compliance to current county land 
use planning.
    Other issues commonly associated with ski area development include: 
effects on cultural resources, water quality, soils, sensitive species, 
and scenery values. This list may be verified, expanded, or modified 
based on public scoping for this proposal.
    The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review in November of 
1997. At that time, the 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's notice of availability 
appears in the Federal Register. It is very important that those 
interested in management of the Bridger Bowl ski area participate at 
that time. To be most helpful, comments on the Draft EIS should be as 
site-specific as possible. The Final EIS is scheduled to be completed 
by June, 1998.
    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 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 scoping 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 developing issues and alternatives.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
on the proposed action, comments should be as specific as possible. 
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.
    I am the responsible official for this environmental impact 
statement. My address is Gallatin National Forest, P.O. Box 130, 
Federal Building, Bozeman, MT 59771.

    Dated: June 6, 1997.
Richard H. Inman,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-15484 Filed 6-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M