[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55574-55575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27847]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Discovery Basin Ski Area Expansion, Philipsburg Ranger District, 
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Granite County, Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: A private consulting firm, Land & Water Consulting, Inc., 
Missoula, Montana, and the Forest Service will prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action to expand the Discovery 
Basin Ski Area. The project area is located approximately 6 miles 
southeast of Philipsburg, Montana, primarily in the Summer Gulch and 
Echo Lake headwaters area.

    The proposed expansion of the ski area would implement Phase III of 
the Discovery Basin Master Plan dated May 1988. A Special Use Permit 
will be required for the proposed action, which would authorize 
additional development, construction, and operation of ski area 
facilities on National Forest Systems lands. The Phase III expansion 
includes approximately 106 acres of cleared ski runs (6), 2.8 miles of 
new road, 2 acres of new parking, a restaurant on the top of Rumsey 
Mountain, expanded snowmaking capacity, and 9,400 feet of new chair 
lifts (2 lifts). Approximately 1,500 vertical feet of skiing would be 
added on the north side of Rumsey Mountain, serviced by a new chair 
lift. The other chair lift would be installed parallel to the existing 
on the south side of Rumsey Mountain in order to increase uphill skier 
capacity and reduce lift lines. New access roads would service the new 
lift station in Summer Gulch.

DATES: Initial comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be 
received in writing no later than November 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Deborah L.R. Austin, Forest 
Supervisor, c/o Bob Gilman, District Ranger, Philipsburg Ranger 
District, P.O. Box 805, Philipsburg, Montana 95858.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ed Casey, Interdisciplinary Team Leader or Bill Sprauer, Recreation 
Specialist, Philipsburg Ranger District, P.O. Box 805, Philipsburg, MT, 
59858, or phone: (406) 859-3211.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To accommodate the additional skiers 
anticipated with the new restaurant on top of Rumsey Mountain would 
include approximately 3,000 square feet of indoor space and 1,000 
square feet of outdoor deck area. A septic system would be installed to 
serve the restaurant. Water would be supplied by a well in the base 
area and a pipeline.
    The total area of National Forest lands affected by the ski area 
would increase from 1,970 acres to 2,220 acres if the expansion is 
approved.
    Approximately 110 acres of the Fred Burr Roadless Area (No. 01-435) 
would

[[Page 55575]]

be affected by ski runs and the tree clearance for those runs. Proposed 
roads and lifts are outside the roadless area boundary.
    Public participation is important to the analysis. Part of the goal 
of public involvement is to identify additional issues and to refine 
the general, tentative issues. A scoping notice describing the project 
will be mailed to those that have requested information on activities 
on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. If sufficient interest is 
expressed a public meeting will be held. Preliminary issues identified 
by Forest Service specialists include effects to wildlife habitats, 
visual quality, recreation, and adjacent private land.
    People may visit with Forest Service officials at any time during 
the analysis and prior to the decision. Two periods are specifically 
designated for comments on the analysis: (1) during the scoping process 
and (2) during the draft EIS comment period.
    During the scoping process, the Forest Service is seeking 
additional information and comments from Federal, State, and local 
agencies and other individuals or organizations who may be interested 
in or affected by the proposed action. The United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service will be consulted concerning effects to threatened and 
endangered species. The agency invites written comments and suggestions 
on this action, particularly in terms of identification of issues and 
alternative development.
    The draft EIS should be available for review in April, 1999. The 
final EIS is scheduled for completion in June, 1999.
    The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of 
availability in the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice at this early stage 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 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 are not raised until 
after completion of the final environment 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 those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so 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 environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is 
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statement 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.
    The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Supervisor is the responsible 
official who will make the decision. She will decide on this proposal 
after considering comments and responses, environmental consequences 
discussed in the Final EIS, and applicable laws, regulations, and 
policies. The decision and reasons for the decision will be documented 
in a Record of Decision.
Deborah L.R. Austin,
Forest Supervisor, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
[FR Doc. 98-27847 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
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