[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 221 (Friday, November 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64574-64576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22429]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


White River National Forest; Eagle County, CO; 2007 Vail Ski Area 
Improvements Proposal

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 2007 Vail Ski Area Improvements proposal. The proposal includes 
projects designed to enhance the guest experience at Vail through a 
series of strategic, qualitative improvements and is tailored to 
improve Vail's ability to respond to its changing market/guests' 
demands and preferences.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 17th. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in May 2008 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in 
July 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments Maribeth Gustafson, Forest Supervisor, 
c/o Roger Poirier, Winter Sports Program Manager, White River National

[[Page 64575]]

Forest, 900 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602-0948.
    For further information, mail correspondence to: Don Dressler--Snow 
Ranger, Holy Cross Ranger District 24747 U.S. Highway 24, P.O. Box 190, 
Minturn, CO 81645.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Dressler--Snow Ranger, Holy Cross 
Ranger District 24747 U.S. Highway 24, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, CO 81645, 
[email protected] or (970) 827-5157.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action addresses issues related 
to the quality of the recreational experience. Presently, alpine 
skiing/snowboarding and other resort activities are provided to the 
public through a Special Use Permit (SUP) issued by the White River 
National Forest. All elements of the proposal remain within the 
existing SUP boundary area. The proposed improvements are consistent 
with the 2002 Revised White River National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan (Forest Plan).

Purpose and Need for Action

    The overall purpose and need for the Proposed Action is to enhance 
the guest experience through a series of strategic, qualitative 
improvements that will enable Vail to better respond to its changing 
market/guests' demands, expectations, and preferences--both in the near 
and long-term. The following basic needs are addressed by the Proposed 
Action:
    (1) Expedite mountain circulation and afternoon egress between Vail 
Mountain and the Vail Village / Lionshead base areas.
    (2) Improve skier/rider access to Sundown Bowl.
    (3) Improve Vail's lift and vehicular maintenance facilities.
    (4) Improve early-season and low snow year skiing/riding on the 
front side of Vail Mountain.
    (5) Provide additional on-mountain dining opportunities.
    (6) Improve access to West Earl's Bowl for both skiers/riders and 
mountain operations.
    (7) Segregate ski and snowboard racing/training from the general 
public.

Proposed Action

    All proposed projects are within Vail's existing SUP boundary. The 
major aspects of the Proposed Action include:
     Upgrade Chair 5 (High Noon) to a high-speed, 
detachable chairlift;
     Install a high-speed, detachable chairlift in Sun Down 
Bowl;
     Construct a new on-mountain restaurant at the confluence 
of Chairs 4, 5, and 11;
     Expand the existing Golden Peak race venue to accommodate 
additional racing and training;
     Create a permanent, groomable route to the western extent 
of Earl's Bowl which will expedite skier/rider access as well as 
enhance Ski Patrol's ability to respond to their needs;
     Convert the existing Snow Summit SnowCat Garage into a 
lift maintenance facility, and construct a new, larger snowcat garage 
adjacent to it;
     Install additional snowmaking infrastructure on three 
existing trails--Simba, Upper Born Free, and Ledges--totalling 
approximately 95 acres of coverage;
     Infrastructural improvements associated with theses 
projects are also proposed, including power line installation to the 
bottom of Chair 5 and the proposed Sun Down Chairlift, 
improvements to the existing Chair 5 access road, regrading 
terminal locations, and installation of retaining walls and culverts.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is Maribeth Gustafson, Forest Supervisor 
for the White River National Forest, 900 Grand Ave., P.O. Box 948, 
Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602. 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

    Based on the analysis that will be documented in the forthcoming 
EIS, the responsible official will decide whether or not to implement, 
in whole or in part, the Proposed Action or another alternative 
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 Vail'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.
    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 and project design features, or analyze environmental effects.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    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 
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service 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 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, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the

[[Page 64576]]

public record on this proposal and will be available for public 
inspection.

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

    Dated: November 9, 2007.
Maribeth Gustafson,
White River National Forest Supervisor.
 [FR Doc. E7-22429 Filed 11-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P