[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62435-62436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25373]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Coconino National Forest, Arizona; Arizona Snowbowl 2002 
Facilities Improvements Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent 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 
the Arizona Snowbowl (Snowbowl) proposed 2002 Facilities Improvements 
Plan. The chief feature of the Proposed Action is Snowbowl's proposal 
to develop snowmaking. This would entail the burial of air, water, and 
electrical lines within the ski area sufficient to enable the Snowbowl 
to produce artificial snow from reclaimed water on 203.5 acres of 
skiing terrain. Snowmaking would also require the construction of a 10 
million gallon water storage pond within the ski area, as well as the 
construction of a pipeline from Flagstaff to the Snowbowl to convey the 
water.
    The other major aspects of the Proposed Action include:
    [sbull] Realignment, modernization and/or upgrade of the Sunset, 
Hart Prairie and Aspen chairlifts; and installment of a new Humphrey's 
chairlift to provide skier access to a new pod of ski runs.
    [sbull] Creation of approximately 66.5 acres of new skiing terrain, 
intended to primarily serve intermediate and advanced skiers. This 
proposed work comprises widening and extending some trails, and the 
construction of two sets of new trails.
    [sbull] Construction of a seven-acre snowplay area near the Hart 
Prairie Lodge. The proposed snowplay area would include a surface 
conveyor, a parking lot, and a guest services building.
    [sbull] Construction of a snowboarding halfpipe near the bottom of 
the existing Sunset chairlift.
    [sbull] Enlargement and upgrading of both day lodges.
    [sbull] Development of a 2,500 sq. foot Cultural Center in or near 
the Agassiz Lodge.
    [sbull] Construction of three new ski team buildings to replace 
existing buildings.
    [sbull] Placement of low-watt lighting on ski trails and facilities 
on the middle to lower areas of the ski area for night skiing.
    [sbull] Construction of a redesigned entrance loop to improve 
vehicle traffic flow.
    [sbull] Construction of pedestrian underpass between the Hart 
Prairie Lodge and the Sunset chairlift to increase pedestrian safety 
and improve traffic flow.
    [sbull] Construction of a hiking trail from the existing Agassiz 
mid-station to the top of the Aggasiz chairlift.
    [sbull] Construction of an Americans with Disability Act (ADA)-
complaint summer access trail into Hart Prairie.
    [sbull] Combination of parking lots 1 and 2.
    [sbull] Thinning of approximately 42 acres of dead and dying trees.
    [sbull] Improvement of skiing terrain by grading/stumping 50 acres 
and smoothing 10 acres on existing ski runs, and
    [sbull] Creation of a dedicated ski teaching area to accommodate 
beginning skiers.
    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 November 15, 2002. A draft environmental impact 
statement is expected in June of 2003 and a final environmental impact 
statement is expected in January of 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposal to: Peaks 
Ranger District, attn: Snowbowl Upgrade, 5075 N. Highway 89, Flagstaff, 
AZ 86004. e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Direct questions about the proposed action and 
EIS to Ken Jacobs, Peaks Ranger District, Phone: (928) 214-2464.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action addresses issues related 
to safety, customer service and economics associated with the 
operations of the existing ski area. All elements of the proposal 
remain 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 Coconino National Forest. Many of the 
proposed projects have been conceptually approved through a previous 
National Environmental Policy Act analysis.
    The permitted ski area is coated on National Forest System lands 
within sections 31 and 32, Township 23 North, Range 7 East; section 36 
Township 23 North, Range 6 East; sections 5 and 6, Township 22 North, 
Range 7 East; and sections 1, Township 22 North, Range 6 East.
    The proposed improvements are consistent with the Coconino National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The proposed 
improvements are considered necessary in light of current resort 
deficiencies, increased visitation experienced over the past decade and 
projects future visitation. The ensuing analysis will provide 
additional site-specific detail for the proposal to reflect changing 
socio-economic and environmental considerations, and may modify the 
project proposal in response to environmental issues.
    The majority of the proposed improvements are originally within the 
1979 Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Record of Decision 
for the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Area Proposal. New proposed projects have 
been designed to remain within the scope of the 1979 Ski Area Proposal 
and Final Environmental Impact Statement. The proposed improvements 
provide high quality, reliable recreational opportunities while 
minimizing effects to surrounding resource values. This has been 
accomplished by focusing the scope of the proposed action on the key 
elements necessary to significantly enhance the quality of the skiing 
experience offered to the recreating public.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service and Arizona Snowbowl cooperatively determined 
broad categories important to the improvement to the Arizona Snowbowl 
(Snowbowl) facilities. From these categories, a list of proposed 
projects was created. The overall Purpose and Need for these projects 
responds to the three broad categories, (1) consistent/reliable 
operating season by snowmaking, (2) improve skiing and recreational 
opportunities by bringing terrain and infrastructure into balance with 
demand, and (3) facilities need to comply with Americans with 
Disabilities Act (ADA).

Possible Alternatives

    There are no alternatives identified at this time. However, 
different configurations of improvements or

[[Page 62436]]

different sources of water for snowmaking will likely be explored.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is Jim Golden, Forest Supervisor for the 
Coconino National Forest, 2323 E Greenlaw Lane, Flagstaff AZ 86004. 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.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision will be to modify the master plan for the Snowbowl Ski 
permit, if an action alternative is selected. All potential actions are 
within the existing permit area; there will be no expansion of the 
area.

Scoping Process

    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 Snowbowl's 
proposal. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering 
issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments should be as 
specific as possible.
    Two public open houses will be held. The first, on October 10, 2002 
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the second, on October 26, 2002 from 2 
p.m. to 5 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Flagstaff High School 
Commons in Flagstaff Arizona. The purpose of the meetings will be to 
provide the public with an opportunity to become more familiar with the 
proposal and to understand the review and analysis process that will be 
used in evaluating this proposal. Additional information may also be 
obtained on the web by accessing: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/nepa.

Preliminary Issues

    Identified preliminary issues include:
    Traditional Cultural Property--The San Francisco Mountain is a 
Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) and was determined eligible for the 
National Register of Historic Places as part of the White Vulcan Mine 
Settlement in July 2000. The Mountain is of traditional cultural 
significance to several Indian tribes, including the Hopi, Navajo, 
Zuni, Hualapai, Havasupai, Yavapai-Apache, Yavpai-Prescott, Tonto 
Apache, White Mountain Apache, San Carlos Apache, San Juan Southern 
Paiute, Fort McDowell Mohave Apache, and Acoma. Previous input has 
indicated that commercial and recreational activities on the Mountain 
sometimes conflict with these values.
    Snowmaking--Preliminary input from some members of the public have 
expressed concern over the hydrological effects of snowmaking on the 
surrounding land. In addition, some people have expressed health 
related concerns over the use of reclaimed water for snowmaking.
    These issues as well as any other identified by this scoping 
process will be analyzed in detail during the EIS process. Alternatives 
may be developed or mitigation measures identified to address issues 
related to the proposed action.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for 
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement 
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice 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 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 environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental 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 that those interested in this proposed action 
participation by the close of the November 15, 2002 comment period so 
that substantive comments and objections are made available to the 
Forest Service at the 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.
    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.


    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: October 1, 2002.
Rodger Zanotto,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Coconino National Forest.
[FR Doc. 02-25373 Filed 10-4-02; 8:45 am]
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