[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 1 (Friday, January 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 50]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-34202]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 50]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Wasatch Powderbird Guides Outfitter and Guide Special-Use Permit,
Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District, Salt Lake
County, Utah and Uinta National Forest, Pleasant Grove and Spanish Fork
Ranger Districts, Utah County, Utah
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement on Wasatch Powderbird Guides request for a five-year
outfitter and guide special-use permit for guided helicopter skiing
activities on National Forest Land.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing by January 30, 1998.
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: Wasatch Powderbird Guides, a current
``Special Use Permit'' permittee, is proposing to operate a heli-skiing
operation for another five-years along the Wasatch Front of the
Wasatch-Cache and Uinta National Forests. This proposal includes
elements on both public and private lands. Elements include the landing
of helicopters to drop off and pick-up heli-skiers who are skiing
across both public and private land holdings. A complete description of
the proposal is available from the Salt Lake Ranger District. This
proposal was originally scoped in January 1997, since then it was
decided that there may be significant impacts, therefore an
environmental impact statement is being completed. A letter explaining
the decision to conduct an environmental impact statement, and
soliciting comments will be sent to nearly 300 individuals,
organizations and government agencies who responded to the original
scoping dated January 27, 1997. Individuals, organizations or other
government agencies may request a copy of the original scoping document
and/or send additional comments by writing to the Salt Lake Ranger
District.
Issues identified since January 1997 include effects on public
safety, effects on Wilderness areas, effects of snowpack stability
testing on vegetation, effects on wildlife, including golden eagles and
threatened, endangered and sensitive species, effects on the economic
viability of Wasatch Powderbird Guides and the local economy and
effects to other winter recreationalists. Two preliminary alternatives
have been identified. The proposed action alternative would permit the
aforementioned heli-skiing operation with the following criteria: a
limit of 2 helicopters, a 5-year average of 2400 skier days per year, a
5-year average of 1200 skier days per year in the Tri-Canyon (Mill
Creek, Big, and Little Cottonwood Canyons) terrain and a 5-year average
of 1000 explosives per year. The No Action alternative would eliminate
helicopter skiing along the Wasatch Front and require a change to the
current Forest Plan. Other alternatives will look at use rotation
methods to reduce conflict between heli-skiing operations and other
winter recreationalists.
The public is invited to submit comments or suggestions to the
address above. Comments received from individuals, groups and
government agencies received from the January 1997 scoping document
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
September 1998.
The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will
be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency's 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 statement 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: December 23, 1997.
Michael Sieg,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 97-34202 Filed 12-31-97; 8:45 am]
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