[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
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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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]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M