[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41924-41925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20437]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Sugarbush Resort EIS, Ski Area Improvement and Development
Analysis, Green Mountain National Forest; Washington County, VT
AGENCY: USDA, Forest Service.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose effects of
alternative decisions it may make to allow upgrading and/or development
of recreational facilities within the existing permit boundaries of the
Sugarbush Resort, on the Rochester Ranger District of the Green
Mountain National Forest.
DATES: Written comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be
received on or before September 19, 1997. The Forest Service predicts
the Draft EIS will be filed during late Winter 1998 and the Final EIS
during late Spring 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Beth LeClair, Rochester District
Ranger, Green Mountain National Forest, RR #2 Box 35, Rochester,
Vermont 05767. James W. Bartelme, Forest Supervisor, Green Mountain
National Forest, is the Responsible Official for this EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Bayer, Project Coordinator,
Manchester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Forest--(802) 362-
2307.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Special Use Permittee, Sugarbush Resort
Holdings, Inc. (SRHI), is proposing that improvements to the Sugarbush
ski area be made which include upgrading existing facilities and
constructing new facilities. The scope of their proposal includes
eleven categories: (1) Development of tree skiing and snowboarding at
Lincoln Peak; (2) expanded snowmaking on seven existing trails at
Lincoln Peak; (3) the connection of Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen
snowmaking systems with two air pipelines, (4) upgrade of two chair
lifts and installation of a tow and magic carpet at Lincoln Peak; (5)
installation of night lighting along Easy Rider Trail and the Village
Quad at Lincoln Peak to facilitate night skiing; (6) trail expansions
at Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen; (7) construction of a seasonal
performing arts center at Lincoln Peak; (8) installation of one view
deck at Mount Ellen; (9) expansion of an existing lodge and
construction of a new lodge at Lincoln Peak; (10) exchanging
approximately 243 acres of privately owned land and/or moneys that in
total equal the appraised value of two parcels of National Forest
System land (a 57-acre parcel adjacent to their existing permit area at
the base of Lincoln Peak which would be used as a site for a new hotel,
and a 32-acre parcel surrounded by private property in Slide Brook);
and (11) increasing the current comfortable carrying capacity
stipulated in SRHI's special use permit from 8,650 skiers to 10,550
skiers.
The aforementioned categories constitute all actions proposed on
National Forest System lands and falling within the existing permit
area boundary. Most of the elements of this proposal are part of the
1996 Sugarbush Resort Master Plan Update. Because this plan also
includes ``reasonably forseeable'' development activities that could
further impact resources in the project area, this EIS will also
address the cumulative impacts of the full implementation of the plan.
The applicant's proposal also would involve development on adjacent
private lands which have land use jurisdictions outside of Forest
Service control, and therefore are not subject to NEPA analysis.
The site-specific environmental analysis provided by the EIS will
assist the Responsible Official in determinining which improvements are
needed to meet the following objectives: improve the quality and
efficiency of the services and facilities offered at the resort; allow
SRHI to provide a more complete, higher quality year-round recreational
experience; and sustain the resource uses and amenity values which
local communities depend on and enjoy.
Public participation will be incorporated into preparation of the
EIS under the provisions of NEPA. The Forest Service invites comments
and suggestions on the scope of the analysis to be included in the
draft EIS. A substantial amount of scoping has been completed under an
earlier Environmental Assessment. Information gained from that scoping
effort was used to determine that an EIS was needed. Major issues
identified include: (1) Analyzing all portions of proposed developments
at Sugarbush Resort at one time, (2) including the hotel and land
exchange in the analysis, (3) justifying the need for night lighting,
(4) analyzing impacts to wildlife habitat, (5) increasing traffic
associated with the expansion, (6) increasing air and noise pollution,
and (7) analyzing impacts of night lighting to the view of the night
sky. The Forest Service will be seeking additional scoping information,
comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies, as
well as other individuals or groups who may be interested or affected
by the proposed action. This information will be used in preparing the
EIS. Public meetings will be held to assist in the public involvement
process. The exact locations and dates of these meetings will be
published in the local newspapers at least two weeks in advance.
Preliminary alternatives include the applicant's proposal
(described above) and No Action, which in this case is continuing
current administration of the ski area. Additional alternatives will be
developed based on scoping comments. The Responsible Official will be
presented with a range of feasible and practical alternatives.
Permits and licenses required to implement the proposed action
will, or may, include the following: Section 404 permit from the Army
Corps of Engineers; consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service for compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act;
compliance with the Act 250 process for the State of Vermont; as well
as cooperation from other Local, State, or Federal agencies.
The Forest Service will seek comments on the Draft EIS for a period
of at least 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. Comments
will be summarized and responded to in the Final EIS.
The Forest Service believes it is important, at this early stage,
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
a draft EIS must structure their participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
[[Page 41925]]
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 EIS stage but that are not raised until after completion of the
final EIS 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 they can meaningfully consider them and
respond to them in the final EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action and alternatives, comments on the
Draft EIS should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the Draft EIS. Comments
may also address the adequacy of the Draft EIS 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. Please note
that comments on the Draft EIS will be regarded as public information.
Dated: July 29, 1997.
James W. Bartelme,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-20437 Filed 8-1-97; 8:45 am]
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