[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7413-7415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3343]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


San Juan National Forest; Colorado; Durango Mountain Resort 2004 
Master Development Plan

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 
the Durango Mountain Resort (DMR) 2004 Master Development Plan. The MDP 
includes plans to upgrade and expand DMR within the existing Special 
Use Permit (SUP) area to achieve a balance of guest service facilities 
and skiing opportunities with existing and proposed visitation, thereby 
enhancing the quality of the recreation experience.
    The major aspects of the Proposed Action include:
     Replace existing lifts 2 and 8 with higher 
capacity lifts along their existing alignments, and shorten Lift 6 
along its same alignment while utilizing the same lift equipment.
     Install one six-person lift (Lift 11), five 
three or four-person chairlifts (lists 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17), one 
surface beginner lift (Lift 15), and three lateral surface (transfer 
lifts--T1, T2, and T3).
     Construct new roads to access Lift 11 top 
terminal (1,000 feet), Lift 2 bottom terminal (250 feet), Lift 14 top 
terminal (800 feet), and Lift 16 bottom terminal (200 feet). Bury power 
line from the top of Lift 4, down Salvation trail to the base of Lift 
11, and along lifts T2 and T3 to service new lifts.
     Create 17 new trails primarily in the areas 
associated with new lifts to improve the overall terrain distribution 
by skier ability level and to better meet the skier market demand.
     Improve four trails within the existing trail 
network and develop two gladed areas.
     Re-route the existing snowmobile access route.

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     Install snowmaking infrastructure, make snow on 
the first 400 feet of the proposed re-route, and groom the re-route 
periodically to create a smooth ridable surface for snowmobile riders 
of all ability levels.
     Develop a snowmobile parking/staging area along 
Hermosa Park Road, north of Purgatory Village on the east side of 
Highway 550, which would accommodate cars, trucks, and trailers.
     Relocate the existing snowmobile outfitter and 
guide to the top of the Twilight Lift (Chair 4).
     Expand snowmaking coverage on 14 existing trails 
and two proposed trails (detailed below) by approximately 149 acres for 
a resort total of 364 acres.

Styx
Lower Hades
Lower Catharsis
Mercy
The Bank
Upper Hermosa
Angel's Tread
Columbine
Divinity
Pinkerton Toll Road
Nirvana
Peace
Dead Spike
Legends
Proposed Run
Proposed Snowmobile Re-route

     Expand the existing Powderhouse Restaurant by 
approximately 11,000 square feet to include a restaurant with 419 
additional seats, restrooms, a ski school desk, retail services, and 
public lockers. Expand the on-site septic system.
     Expand the existing Dante's Restaurant by 1,200 
square feet to include a restaurant with 473 additional seats and guest 
services similar to those at the Powderhouse. This facility would 
continue to operate during the winter season and is proposed for summer 
use as well. Re-drill two existing wells to produce a higher water flow 
for domestic water needs. Upgrade the on-site septic system.
     Construct a new 13,500 square foot lodge 
adjacent to the top terminal of Twilight Lift (4) to include a 
444-seat restaurant, restrooms, a ski school desk, retail services, and 
public lockers. This facility is proposed for winter and summer use. 
Haul domestic water from existing storage tanks or proposed well and 
develop an on-site septic system.
     Drill one additional well along the Pinkerton 
Toll Road ski trail to provide additional domestic water for the 
resort.
     Double the size of the aboveground fuel storage 
tanks at the mid-mountain maintenance building.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed 
to Richard Speegle at the San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett 
Court, Durango, CO 81301. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to 
[email protected] or via facsimile to (970) 375-1243.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Speegle, Supervisory 
Recreation Planner, at the Public Lands Center via telephone at (970) 
375.3310. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday 
through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action addresses issues related 
to the recreation experience. Presently, alpine skiing/snowboarding and 
other resort activities are provided to the public through a Special 
Use Permit (SUP) issued by the Forest Service and administered by the 
San Juan National Forest. All elements of the proposal remain within 
the existing SUP boundary area. The proposed improvements are 
consistent with the San Juan National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan (Forest Plan). The proposed improvements are considered 
necessary in light of current resort deficiencies and projected future 
visitation.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service and Durango Mountain Resort (DMR) cooperatively 
identified a purpose for this proposal, which is to upgrade and expand 
DMR within the existing Special Use Permit (SUP) are to achieve a 
balance of guest service facilities and skiing opportunities with 
existing and proposed visitation, thereby enhancing the quality of the 
recreation experience.
    Responsible Official: The responsible official is Mark Stiles, 
Forest Supervisor for the San Juan National Forest, Public Land Center, 
15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301. The responsible official wll 
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

    Based on the analysis that will be documented in the forthcoming 
EIS, the responsible official for this project, the Forest Supervisor 
of the San Juan National Forest, will decide whether or not to 
implement, in whole or in part, the Proposed Action or another 
alernative developed by the Forest Service.

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 DMR's proposal. To 
assist the Forest Service identifying and considering issues and 
concerns on the proposed action, comments should be as specific as 
possible.
    An open house will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2004 from 4:30 pm 
until 8:30 pm at the San Juan Lands Center. Input provided by 
interested and/or affected individuals, organizations and governmental 
agencies will be used to identify resource issues that will be analyzed 
in the Draft EIS. The Forest Service will identify significant issues 
raised during the scoping process, and use them to formulate 
alternatives, prescribe mitigation measures, or analyze environmental 
effects.
    Preliminary Issues: Identified preliminary issues include:
     Water quantity and quality.
     Wetlands.
     Wildlife and vegetation (Threatened, Endangered, 
and Sensitive species).
     Quality of the recreation experience.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the draft environmental impact statement, including 
the identification of the range of alternatives to be considered. While 
public Participation is strictly optional at this stage, the Forest 
Service believes that it is important to give reviewers notice of 
several court rulings related to public participation in the subsequent 
environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft statements must 
structure their participation int he environmental review of the 
proposal so that it is meaninful 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

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this proposed action participate by the close of the 45 day draft 
environmental impact statement comment period so that substantive 
coments and objections are made available to the Forest Servie 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 also may address the 
adequacy of the draft environmental impact statement or the merits of 
the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement. In 
addressing these points, reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations which implement the procedural 
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3.

    Dated: February 9, 2004.
Pauline E. Ellis,
Columbine District Ranger, San Juan National Forest.
[FR Doc. 04-3343 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M