[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71101-71103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32833]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Copper Mountain Resort Trails and Facilities Improvements Plan 
White River National Forest--Summit County, Colorado

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to disclose the anticipated environmental effects of 
Copper Mountain Resort's (CMR) proposed Trails and Facilities 
Improvements Plan. The proposed development includes the replacement 
and upgrading of two existing lifts, development of two new lifts, 
expanding on-mountain snowmaking coverage, creation of additional 
skiing trails and glades, the renovation and expansion of an existing 
on-mountain restaurant, construction of a snow-vehicle maintenance shop 
with fuel storage, the development of two skier warming facilities, and 
upgrading one existing ski patrol facility.
    The agency gives notice of the full environmental analysis and 
decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so that 
interested and affected individuals may become aware of how they may 
participate in the process and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the proposal and environmental analysis 
should be received by January 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposal to Michael 
Liu, Special Project Coordinator, Dillon Ranger District, P.O. BOX 620, 
Silverthorne, Colorado, 80498. Fax: 970 468-7735. E-mail: Liu__Mike/
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions about the proposed 
action and EIS to Michael Liu, Special Project Coordinator, Dillon 
Ranger District, P.O. BOX 620, Silverthorne, Colorado, 80498. Phone: 
970 262-3440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would increase 
recreational opportunities at Copper Mountain Resort while remaining 
within the existing Special Use Permit Boundary. Presently, alpine 
skiing/snowboarding and other resort activities are provided to the 
public through a Special Use Permit (SUP) issued by the U.S. Forest 
Service and administered by the White River National Forest (WRNF). 
Many of the proposed projects have been conceptually approved through 
previous National Environmental Policy Act analysis of the resort's 
Master Development Plan.
    The project is located on National Forest System lands within 
sections 29, 30, 31, and 32, Township 6 South, Range 78 West, sections 
5, 6, and 7, Township 7 South, Range 78 West, section 25, 26, 35, and 
36, Township 6 South, Range 79 West, and sections 1, 2, 11, and 12, 
Township 7 South, Range 79 West, of the 6th Principal Meridian.
    The proposed improvements were found to be generally consistent 
with the White River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 
(Forest Plan) and Regional Guide direction. It was determined that a 
non-significant Forest Plan amendment may be required

[[Page 71102]]

to meet the Visual Quality objective contained within the Management 
Prescription for the 9A Management Area. The proposed improvements are 
considered necessary in light of current resort deficiencies, increased 
visitation experienced over the past decade, and projected future 
visitation. The ensuing analysis will provide additional site specific 
detail for portions of the MDP to accommodate changing socio-economic 
and environmental considerations, and may modify previous approvals 
shown in the MDP in response to environmental issues.
    Over the past five months, a ``Collaborative Frontloaded 
Interagency Process'' was conducted to establish a cooperative dialogue 
with various state, local, and federal agencies and to garner their 
input to the preliminary proposal. Additionally, CMR conducted several 
public forums allowing the community an opportunity to provide input to 
the proposal formulation process.
    Purpose and Need: Purpose 1: To qualitatively improve Alpine skiing 
and snowboarding opportunities and bring infrastructure into balance 
with current use levels.
    A. To improve quality, distribution, and circulation of 
intermediate through expert skiers and riders by enhancing access to 
and from less accessible terrain.
    B. To enhance teaching facilities completing the learning area, and 
to provide an atmosphere responsive to the needs of beginning level 
guests.
    C. To increase the amount of groomed, gladed terrain, responding to 
changing skier/boarder preferences, desires for these types of terrain, 
and develop appropriate management of gladed area throughout the 
resort.
    D. To improve the balance between skiable terrain and existing lift 
capacity.
    E. To improve circulation and address guest expectations for 
reliable, diverse, high-quality, early-season terrain. Additional 
snowmaking would provide durable coverage on high traffic, and exposed 
areas.
    F. To increase the quantity, and improve the quality of on-mountain 
seating, improving the quality of the guest experience, increasing the 
range of services provided, and minimizing base area congestion.
    Purpose 2: To improve operational efficiencies by incorporating 
technological innovations and through the development, renovation, 
relocation, and centralization of facilities.
    A. To provide a snow vehicle maintenance shop, which can be easily 
accessed by employees, vehicles, and materials during the winter, and 
is located closer to the majority of the terrain and facilities being 
served. Development of a new facility would allow reallocation of the 
existing shop space to maintenance of the rubber-tired fleet, thus 
maximizing operational efficiencies. A more centrally located facility 
would increase operational efficiencies, and increase the effective 
productivity of the grooming and maintenance fleet.
    B. To upgrade and replace aged infrastructure, thereby reducing 
maintenance requirements, increasing operational efficiencies and 
reliability, meeting guest expectations, and incorporating modern 
technologies.
    C. To install underground snowmaking infrastructure on trails 
currently being covered, thereby reducing risks to personnel, 
decreasing labor requirements, and incorporating current technology 
resulting in higher productivity.
    D. To provide an emergency egress route from Copper Bowl, allowing 
guest and employee egress in the event of a lift failure, and 
facilitating rapid evacuation of patients with life-threatening 
conditions. To provide a ski patrol duty station in the Tucker Mountain 
pod sized to ensure the appropriate availability of emergency equipment 
and personnel.
    Purpose 3: To integrate ski area development and use with 
ecological principals such as managing habitats, water resources, 
forest cover, and connectivity thus maintaining viable plant and animal 
populations.
    A. To ensure projects are designed and implemented to maintain 
functions and values of critical or unique habitats as identified by 
resource professionals.
    The Proposed Action: The proposed improvements include: the 
replacement and upgrading of two existing lifts (Alpine and Sierra), 
development of two new lifts (one on Tucker Mountain and a teaching 
lift in the Union Creek area), expanding on-mountain snowmaking 
coverage by approximately 400 acres, creation of additional skiing 
trails and glades, the renovation and expansion of an existing on-
mountain restaurant (Solitude Station), construction of a snow-vehicle 
maintenance shop with fuel storage, the development of two skier 
warming facilities, and upgrading one existing ski patrol facility.
    Preliminary Issues: Identified preliminary issues include potential 
forest fragmentation, effects to wildlife, botanical resources, 
wetlands, water quality, mountain hydrology, and the relationship of 
the proposed action to future development of adjacent real estate.
    Public Involvement: Public questions and comments regarding this 
proposal are an integral part of this environmental analysis process. 
Comments will be used to identify issues and develop alternatives to 
CMR's proposal. 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 statement. 
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.
    A public meeting will be held on January 11, 2000 at 5:30 p.m. in 
the Summit County Commons Building, 37 County Road 1005, Frisco 
Colorado. The purpose of the meeting will be to provide the public with 
an opportunity to become more familiar with the proposal and to ask 
questions. Additional information may also be obtained on the web by 
accessing: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/reading__room.html
    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 Part 215 or 
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 requestor 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 names and addresses within 
thirty (30) days.
    Public comments are appreciated throughout the analysis process. 
The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) in September 2000 and will be available

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for public review at that time. The comment period on the draft EIS 
will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register. Completion of the final EIS is 
anticipated in February 2001.
    The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice of this early stage of public participation and 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 positions and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could have been raised 
at the draft stage may be waived or dismissed by the court if not 
raised until after the completion of the final EIS. 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 comment period so 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider and respond to them 
in the final EIS.
    In the Final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to 
substantive comments received during the comment period, which pertain 
to the environmental consequences discussed in the draft EIS.
    Responsible Official: The responsible official is Martha Ketelle, 
Forest Supervisor for the White River National Forest. The responsible 
official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in a 
Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to appeal under 36 
CFR part 215 or part 251.

    Dated: December 13, 1999.
Martha J. Ketelle,
Forest Supervisor,
White River National Forest.
[FR Doc. 99-32833 Filed 12-17-99; 8:45 am]
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