[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66116-66117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31906]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 66116]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Crystal Mountain Master Development Plan, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie 
National Forest, Pierce County, Washington

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, USDA, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for Crystal Mountain's proposal to update its Master 
Development Plan. The proposed development includes the replacement and 
addition of chairlifts and surface lifts; construction of an aerial 
tram; expansion of the snowmaking system; as well as the addition and 
expansion of parking areas, day lodges, overnight lodging and other 
related facilities, and utilities to support new ski and other 
recreation opportunities. The proposed action also includes watershed 
restoration projects that have been identified in the watershed.
    The proposed action would increase the year-round recreational 
opportunities within the existing Special Use Permit Boundary (4,350 
acres). Implementation of the proposed Master Development Plan would 
increase the skiers-at-one-time (SAOT) capacity from 7,150 to 10,990. 
If implemented, the resulting persons-at-one-time (PAOT) capacity of 
the resort would increase from 7,865 to 12,090.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of this analysis should be in 
writing and postmarked by January 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Daniel T. Harkenrider, Acting 
Forest Supervisor, 21905 64th Avenue West, Mountlake Terrace, 
Washington 98043, Attention: Crystal Mountain Master Plan.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Donovan, Winter Sports 
Specialist, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Supervisor's Office, 
21905 64th Avenue West, Mountlake Terrace, Washington 98043-2278. 
Phone: (425) 744-3403. Internet: l.donovan/[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Crystal Mountain has been operating under a 
Special Use Permit from the USDA Forest Service since it opened for 
business in 1962. Presently, alpine skiing/snowboarding and other four-
season resort activities are provided to the public through a Special 
Use Permit administered by the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. 
The current Special Use Permit includes a requirement that an updated 
Master Development Plan be prepared, as most projects identified in the 
existing (1983) Master Development Plan have been developed.
    The purpose (objective) of this project is an updated Master Plan 
for long range (10-15) years management and development of the Crystal 
Mountain Ski Area. The goal of the Master Plan will be to ensure the 
long-term economic viability of Crystal Mountain; maintain the 
competitive position of Crystal Mountain with other ski areas in the 
Puget Sound Basin; maintain and restore a healthy ecosystem; and be 
consistent with the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Plan.
    The proposed action is the submitted 1998 Master Development Plan 
proposal. It includes: replacing three existing chair lifts; 
constructing seven new chair lifts, two new surface lifts, and an 
aerial tram, resulting in an additional of 265.8 acres of lift-served 
ski terrain. The tram provide improved four-season public access to the 
summit of Crystal Mountain. Also proposed: an expanded snowmaking 
system (from 30 acres of coverage to 249 acres); and increased night 
skiing (from 65 to 175 acres). The proposed action also includes the 
addition of 57,000 square feet of support facilities, including two on-
mountain restaurants. Expansion of the existing Alpine Inn and 
construction of a new hotel would provide public lodging for an 
additional 690 overnight visitors. An additional base area (Bullion 
Basin) is proposed for development in a portion of the existing Parking 
Lot B. Overall parking would be expanded by 11-12 acres. New employee 
housing facilities are proposed, serving 285 employees. A new sewage 
treatment facility is also proposed; it would serve the Crystal 
Mountain ski area as well as other Forest Service Special Use Permit 
areas and private development in the watershed. In order to meet the 
increased snowmaking and domestic water consumption needs, several 
wells would be developed. The proposed action also includes watershed 
restoration projects as identified in the Silver Creek Watershed 
Condition Assessment. Implementation could begin in the summer of 2000 
and would continue for approximately 10-15 years.
    The site-specific environmental analysis provided by the Crystal 
Mountain Master Development Plan EIS will assist the Forest Supervisor 
in determining which improvements are needed to meet the goals and 
objectives, as stated above.
    An environmental document will be produced which will display 
alternativers considered, including (1) no action, and (2) the proposed 
action. Three additional alternatives have been tentatively identified: 
(3) reduced expansion into the East Peak area; (4) no development in 
the North Country, South Country and East Peak Areas; and (5) reduced 
disturbance to riparian reserves. The EIS will analyze the direct, 
indirect, and cumulative effects of the alternatives. Past, present, 
and projected activities on both private and National Forest System 
lands will be considered. The EIS will disclose the effects of site-
specific mitigation.
    Comments from the public will be used to: 
     Identify potential issues.
     Identify major issues to be analyzed in depth.
     Eliminate minor issues or those that have been covered by 
a previous environmental analysis, such as the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie 
Land and Resource Management Plan.
     Identify alternatives to the proposed action.
     Identify potential environmental effects of the proposed 
action and alternatives.
    Issues Identified as the result of internal scoping include: 
     Consistency with the Forest Plan/Aquatic Conservation 
Strategy Objectives;
     Maintenance of Visual Quality Objectives in Mount Rainier 
National Park and along the Pacific Crest Trail;
     Transportation impacts to Highway 410 and Crystal Mountain 
Boulevard;

[[Page 66117]]

     Increased access to ``Back Country'' terrain;
     Maintenance of snags, large downed wood and old growth 
habitat; and
     Maintenance of habitat for Threatened & Endangered, 
Sensitive and Survey & Manage species.
    Scoping and public involvement are continuing. An initial scoping 
letter will be mailed on November 19, 1998. Two public scoping meetings 
will be held: December 8, 1998, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at the Seattle 
Sea-Tac Marriot Hotel, 3201 South 176th Street, Seattle, WA 98189; and 
December 9, 1998, from 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM at the Enumclaw Senior High 
School cafeteria, 226 Semanski South, Enumclaw, WA 98022. The 
information and comments received will be used in preparation of the 
draft EIS.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the 
public record on this proposed action and will be available for public 
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Parts 215 and 
217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request 
the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing 
how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the 
FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited 
circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service 
will inform the requester of the agency's decision regarding the 
request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the 
agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the 
comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within 
(30) days.
    The draft EIS is expected to be filed in April 1999. Following 
release of the draft EIS, there will be a public comment period of at 
least 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes that 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 
the draft EIS 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 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 it 
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, 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 EIS. (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 final EIS is scheduled to be completed in November 1999. In the 
final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments and 
responses received during the comment period that pertain to the 
environmental consequences discussed in the draft EIS and applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies considered in making the decision EIS 
and applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making the 
decision regarding this proposal. The lead agency is the Forest 
Service. The Forest Supervisor of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National 
Forest is the responsible official. The responsible official will 
document the decision and the reasons for the decision in the Record of 
Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service appeal 
regulations 36 CFR Parts 215 or 251.

    Dated: November 13, 1998.
Dennis E. Bschor,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-31906 Filed 11-30-98; 8:45 am]
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