[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 199 (Friday, October 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61199-61200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23155]



[[Page 61199]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Availability Application for Transportation and Utility 
Systems and Facilities for the Village at Wolf Creek Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, Rio Grande National Forest.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest 
Service (USFS), Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) announces the 
availability of the Application for Transportation and Utility Systems 
and Facilities for the Village at Wolf Creek Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS). Draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the Council 
on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
Implementing Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). The EIS analyzes the 
environmental impacts of a proposal to authorize the construction and 
use of road and utility corridors across Federal land administered by 
the USFS RGNF to a 287.5-acre private parcel of land (private 
property). Four alternatives are considered: (1) The No Action 
Alternative; (2) the Proposed Action (Tranquility Road); (3) the Snow 
Shed--East Village Access Alternative; and (4) the Dual Access Road 
Alternative--Tranquility Road and the Snow Shed--East Village Access 
Alternative. More than one access road and utility corridor may be 
authorized by the USFS as a result of the Application.

DATES: USFS invites Federal agencies, State and local governments, 
Native American tribes, and the public to comment on the Draft EIS. The 
comment period extends for forty-five days from the publication of the 
Notice of Availability published by the Environmental Protection Agency 
on October 8, 2004. Comments submitted after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable. The USFS will consider the 
comments in the preparation of the Final EIS. Public meetings to 
present information and receive written comments on the Draft EIS will 
be held at three locations. This information will also be published in 
local Colorado newspapers prior to the meetings. Any necessary changes 
will be announced in the local media and on the Web site noted in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Written comments will be accepted at 
the public meetings.
    The locations, dates, and times for these public meetings are as 
follows:

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Creede Community Center, 
Forest Service Road 503 9, Creede, Colorado 81130.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004, 3 p.m.-7 p.m., South Fork Community 
Center, 0254 Highway 49, South Fork, Colorado 81154.
Thursday, October 28, 2004, 3 p.m.-7 p.m., Pagosa Springs Community 
Center, 451 Hot Springs Boulevard, Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147.

The following Web site may be accessed for additional information: 
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/riogrande/planning/planning.htm.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on the Draft EIS or requests for 
copies of the Draft EIS to: VWC DEIS Comments, Tetra Tech Inc., 5205 
Leesburg Pike, Suite 1400, Falls Church, VA 22041. You may send 
electronic comments to [email protected], or 
comments may be faxed to (703) 931-9222.
    A copy of the Draft EIS is available on the Internet at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/riogrande/planning/planning.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Mr. Robert Dalrymple, Forest 
Planner, USDA-USFS, Rio Grande National Forest, (719) 852-5941. Refer 
to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION regarding public disclosure of submitted 
comment information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Rio Grande National Forest is comprised 
of 1.86 million acres located in southwestern Colorado. Denver, 
Colorado, is approximately 300 miles to the north of the RGNF, and 
Albuquerque, New Mexico, is approximately 270 miles to the south. The 
Continental Divide runs for 236 miles along most of the western border 
of the RGNF. The Wolf Creek Ski Area (Ski Area) is located on lands 
administered by the RGNF.
    On May 14, 1987, the USFS conveyed to the Leavell-McCombs Joint 
Venture 287.5 acres of private property in exchange for property in 
Saguache County, Colorado. The 287.5 acres is entirely surrounded by 
Federal lands; a condition that was recognized at the time the land 
exchange was approved. The 287.5-acre private property is also entirely 
within the Wolf Creek Ski Corporation (WCSC) Special Use Permit (SUP) 
boundary managed by the USFS as a winter use area. Presently, the 
Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture is requesting authorization to construct 
and use road and utility corridors across Federal land to access their 
private property.
    The all-weather, year-round access road would not exceed 2,350 feet 
in length within a 60-foot width. Any new or upgraded sections of the 
roadway would be constructed to USFS specifications and would cross 
USFS land from United States Highway 160 (Highway 160) to the private 
property. Approximately 2,100 feet of this proposed route has been 
developed as a road, known as ``Tranquility Road,'' for access to Ski 
Area parking lots and will be operated and maintained under the WCSC 
SUP. Vehicle traffic would consist of passenger vehicles, buses, and 
other vehicles and transport necessary to develop, construct, operate, 
and support the residents and businesses associated with the Village at 
Wolf Creek.
    The Application would also grant two 10-foot wide permanent utility 
corridors for the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and 
replacement of electrical transmission lines and facilities; television 
cables, communication cables and lines, fiber-optic lines, and other 
utilities as required to serve the private property (Village at Wolf 
Creek). An additional 1,000-foot long, 20-foot wide utility corridor 
from Highway 160 to the northwest section of the property is also 
proposed.
    The responsible Official is the Forest Supervisor, Rio Grande 
National Forest, 1803 West Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81132. The NEPA 
decision to be made by the USFS official is whether or not to authorize 
the Application for Transportation and Utility Systems and Facilities 
on Federal lands as proposed by the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture, or 
alternatives to the proposed access road(s) and utility corridors.
    No Action: The No Action Alternative is the current USFS management 
situation. Under this alternative, USFS would not issue the Applicant 
any special-use authorization for access or utility corridors across 
USFS lands to the private property. However, this action would not 
preclude the Applicant from continuing to have limited access to the 
private property via Forest System Road (FSR) 391. The Applicant has 
stated the intent to develop 2,172 units on the private property as the 
Village at Wolf Creek even if the No Action Alternative is selected by 
the USFS.
    Proposed Action: The Applicant submitted a request for 
authorization to construct and use an 80-foot wide corridor across USFS 
lands for both road and utility purposes, from Highway 160 to the 
private property via an extension of ``Tranquility Road''. Tranquility 
Road has a 23-foot driving surface, and WCSC plans to complete it in 
2004. To access the western boundary

[[Page 61200]]

of the private property, the Applicant is proposing to extend 
Tranquility Road by adding approximately 250 feet of road length. The 
extensions would have a minimum 24-foot wide running surface. The road 
access associated with this alternative would merge into the current 
entrance to the Ski Area at the junction with Highway 160. Utility 
corridors to the east and the north of the approximately 2,350-foot 
access road would include buried electrical transmission lines, 
television and communication cables, fiber-optic lines, and other 
utilities. An additional 1,000-foot long, 20-foot wide utility corridor 
from Highway 160 to the northwest section of the private property is 
also proposed. Public access across the private property on FSR 391 
would remain unchanged from the current USFS management conditions.
    Snow Shed--East Village Access Alternative: The Snow Shed--East 
Village Access Alternative would authorize the construction and use of 
an access road and three utility corridors that begin on Highway 160, 
at a point approximately 0.33 mile east of the current entrance to the 
Ski Area and approximately 0.25 mile west of the Snow Shed. Utility 
corridors alongside the approximately 1,500-foot access road would 
include buried electrical transmission lines, television and 
communication cables, fiber-optic lines, and other utilities. Public 
access across private lands on FSR 391 would remain unchanged from the 
current management conditions.
    Dual Access Road Alternative: This alternative provides two access 
roads to the private property and utility corridors associated with 
those roads. This alternative would be a combination of Alternative 2 
(Proposed Action) and the first 750 feet of Alternative 3 (from Highway 
160 to the northwestern boundary of the private property). Public 
access across private lands on FSR 391 would remain unchanged from the 
current management conditions.
    After the end of the public comment period, the USFS will consider 
and respond to the comments received, revise the Draft EIS as 
appropriate, and issue the Final EIS. The USFS will consider the 
analysis in the Final EIS, along with other information, in making a 
decision on the request for authorized use of the access road(s) and 
corridor(s).

Comments Requested

    The Notice of Availability published by the Environmental 
Protection Agency on October 8, 2004 initiated the public comment 
process that guides the development of the Final EIS. The USFS invites 
written comments and suggestions on the proposed action and 
alternatives, including any issues to consider, as well as any concerns 
relevant to the analysis. Pursuant to 30 CFR 215.13(b), only those 
individuals or organizations who submitted substantive comments during 
the comment period may file an appeal.
    Comments received in response to this notice, 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. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from 
public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA), you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 
written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by 
law, but 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 USFS 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 a specified number 
of days. All submissions from organizations and business, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in 
their entirety. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision pursuant to 36 CFR part 215. 
Comments and USFS responses will be addressed in the Final EIS.

    Dated: October 8, 2004.
Peter L. Clark,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 04-23155 Filed 10-14-04; 8:45 am]
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