[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 42 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11283-11284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5005]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision to Solitude Mountain Resort Master Development Plan 
Update, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District, Salt 
Lake County, UT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Salt Lake Ranger District, of the Wasatch-Cache National 
Forest, will conduct a new public scoping process and prepare an EIS on 
Solitude Ski Resort's (Solitude) revised proposal to update their 
Master Development Plan.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by April 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Daniel J. Jiron, District Ranger, 
6944 South 3000 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Scheid, Project Manager, (801) 
733-2689.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solitude is proposing to revise its Master 
Development Plan Update. During the spring and summer of 1995, Solitude 
Ski Resort submitted to the Forest Service an updated Master 
Development Plan (MDP) detailing proposed ski area and facility 
modifications. Public comment was initially solicited on August 4, 1995 
through the issuance of a scoping document, followed by a public 
meeting on August 25, 1995. A second public scoping notice was issued 
for Solitude in July 1996, after the Forest Service determined that an 
EIS needed to be prepared. A public field review was also held in 
September 1997 to view and discuss proposed projects and potential 
alternatives for Solitude's MDP update.
    The planning horizon for Solitude's original MDP update was 
approximately five years. Due to the substantial elapse of time (four 
years), there is now a need to extend the planning horizon of 
Solitude's MDP update. In addition, Solitude's desire to address public 
and Agency issues pertaining to their proposed facilities has resulted 
in a

[[Page 11284]]

number of additions and modifications to the MDP update. The vast 
majority of projects originally proposed for Solitude's MDP update 
remain unchanged. Solitude's proposal, if approved, would require 
Forest Plan amendments to incorporate projects located outside its 
special use permit boundary; install the proposed Sol-Bright lift; meet 
the proposed expansion of Solitude's skiers at one time (SAOT) 
capacity; meet visual quality objectives (VQO's) for existing and 
proposed parking areas and the proposed Highway accelerations and 
deceleration lane improvements.
    Solitude proposes to improve their base facilities by replacing 
their outdated Main and Eagle Express lodges with two new buildings, 
which will house ski operations, skier services (restrooms, food 
service, day care, ski school and ski patrol) and a connected Salt Lake 
County Fire Station. They also propose to construct additions to the 
existing Moonbeam Center and Last Chance Mining Camp day lodges to help 
alleviate overcrowded conditions.
    Solitude's proposed base area projects include the following: a 
landing pad for rescue helicopters, recreational vehicle hookups, 
expanding Moonbeam parking lot, upgrading base transportation and 
visitor circulation systems, a satellite and communications base 
station, and upgrading the snowmaking system (stream diversion points, 
a pump house and dredging Lake Solitude) to provide snowmaking capacity 
for 250 acres.
    Solitude is also proposing to upgrade its lift system by 
constructing three new double chairlifts, a pulse gondola for internal 
resort (base area) transportation and upgrading three existing lifts to 
high-speed detachable quads. They are also proposing numerous 
improvements to their trail system and a new trail near the Sunrise 
lift. Solitude is also proposing to provide lighted nighttime 
activities including sliding, snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating 
adjacent to the Village base area. Solitude is also proposing 
summertime recreation use improvements by upgrading its mountain bike 
trail system and constructing an alpine slide.
    Additional information on the proposed actions is available through 
the Salt Lake Ranger District office. Before any decision is made on 
this proposal, Solitude must obtain the following: a water change 
application from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of 
Water Rights, State Engineer; all applicable building permits from Salt 
Lake County; a 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers; and 
consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency.
    A scoping document, dated August 4, 1995, was sent to more than 540 
individuals, organizations, and local and state government agencies. A 
second scoping notice, dated July 16, 1996 was sent to more than 250 
individuals, organizations, and local and state government agencies. 
Preliminary issues identified by a Forest Service interdisciplinary 
team include effects on riparian and wetland areas, visual quality, 
transportation, parking, wildlife and vegetation, soil erosion, and 
water quality and quantity in a culinary watershed. Two preliminary 
alternatives have been identified. The proposed action alternative 
would permit Solitude to implement all of its proposed upgrades and may 
require Solitude to convert to a new Ski Area Term Special Use Permit. 
The no action alternative would permit use as it presently exists with 
no new improvements.
    The public is invited to submit comments or suggestions to the 
address above. The responsible official is Bernie Weingrardt, Forest 
Supervisor. A Draft EIS is expected to be filed in December of 2000 and 
the final EIS filed in November of 2001.
    The comment period on the draft EIS 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 during that time. To be most helpful, 
comments on the draft EIS 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 the 
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). 
Environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft stage 
may be waived if not raised until after completion of the final EIS. 
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 objectives are made 
available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully 
consider them and respond to them in the final EIS.

    Dated: February 25, 2000.
Daniel J. Jiron,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 00-5005 Filed 3-1-00; 8:45 am]
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