[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 221 (Friday, November 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64666-64667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22502]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for the Bald Mountain Ski Resort Master Development 
Plan EIS

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et. seq., as amended, and the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et. seq., as 
amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Shoshone Field Office, 
announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) for the Bald Mountain Ski Resort Master Development Plan EIS. 
The FEIS analyzes and discloses the effects of the updated Bald 
Mountain Ski Area Master Development Plan and 40-year term ski permit 
application for the Bald Mountain Ski Area near Ketchum, Idaho.

DATES: The FEIS will be available for public review for 30 calendar 
days from the date of this publication, which coincides with the NOA 
published in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA). Following this 30 day period, the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service will each issue a separate 
Record of Decision, which will identify the Responsible Officials' 
Selected Alternative and discuss the rationale for their decisions.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the FEIS was sent to affected Federal, State, and 
local government agencies and interested parties. The document is also 
available electronically on the following Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sawtooth/projects. Copies of the Final EIS will be 
available for public inspection at the following locations: Ketchum 
Ranger District, 206 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum, ID. 83340, Business 
Hours 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Miczulski, Winter Sports Manager 
at the Ketchum Ranger District; P.O. Box 2356, Ketchum, ID. 83340; or 
phone at (208)-622-5371.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sun Valley Company (SVC) has requested a new 
40-year term ski area permit for the Bald Mountain Ski Resort. The 
existing ski area permit, which was issued in December 1977, expires 
December 2007. To be valid, a ski area permit must have an approved 
Master Development Plan (MDP), which is prepared by the permit holder 
and encompasses the entire winter sports resort envisioned for 
development and authorization by the permit. Upon acceptance by the 
Authorized Officers, the MDP becomes part of the ski area permit. The 
EIS analyzes the effects of the proposed action and alternatives. The 
agencies give notice of the NEPA analysis and decision making process 
on the proposal so interested and affected members of the public may 
participate in and contribute to the final decision.
    A 1989 MDP currently guides the Forest Service and BLM in their 
administration of the Special Use Permit (SUP) for the ski area. A 
majority of the actions described in the 1989 MDP have been 
implemented. Given the age and status of the 1989 MDP, the Forest 
Service, BLM and SVC determined that an updated plan would be 
appropriate at this time.
    In August 2005, the Sun Valley Master Plan (2005 Master Plan) was 
produced and submitted to the Forest Service and BLM. The 2005 Master 
Plan was accepted at that time, and the Phase 1 projects on public 
lands were advanced for site-specific review and analysis under 
requirements of NEPA.
    A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Phase 1 
projects of the 2005 Master Plan was released for public comment in 
February 2007. The comment period on the DEIS extended through April 9, 
2007, eliciting ninety-three comment letters from individuals, 
organizations, and public agencies. Major themes of the letters 
included comments relating to the proposal to construct a trail on 
Guyer Ridge (and associated impacts on the visual environment), 
installation of additional snowmaking infrastructure (and associated 
impacts on the acoustic environment), as well as effects to recreation 
resources associated with trail construction, installation of 
snowmaking machinery, and seasonal construction of a terrain park on 
the Warm Springs side of the ski area. The Agencies formally addressed 
comments in the ``Response to Comments on the DEIS'' which is included 
with the FEIS. In addition, some comments warranted clarifications and 
factual changes in the

[[Page 64667]]

FEIS; however, none of these changes or clarifications altered the 
effects determinations disclosed in the DEIS. Some of these changes and 
clarifications include: quantification of earthen material proposed to 
be moved for development of the Guyer Ridge trail; a more thorough 
description of the remodeling plans for the Roundhouse Restaurant; 
information on avalanche danger on Guyer Ridge under Alternative 2; and 
clarifications concerning noise and light impacts due to construction 
and grooming activities on Guyer Ridge.
    Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose and need for the proposed 
Master Development Plan (MDP) is to update the 1989 MDP to reflect 
current conditions and needs at the ski resort. Most of the 
improvements described in the 1989 MDP have been implemented. In 
addition, new ski area technologies, updated land management plans, and 
changes in the environment have emerged during this time, which warrant 
consideration in an updated MDP.
    Proposed Action: SVC has largely implemented the 1989 MDP. The 2005 
MDP represents a logical extension of the previously approved and 
completed projects, and is separated into three phases. Phase 1 
projects are designed to enhance recreational opportunities on Bald 
Mountain by responding to the constantly evolving mountain sports 
industry while addressing the goals and objectives of the Sawtooth 
Forest Plan and the BLM Sun Valley Management Framework Plan. The 
Proposed Action includes: development of new ski trails both within and 
outside of the current permit boundary, installation of additional 
snowmaking machinery, modification of existing ski runs, installation 
of the River Run Gondola, removal of the Exhibition chairlift, and 
modifications to the Roundhouse Restaurant. A Vegetation Management 
Plan (VMP) was also analyzed concurrently with the DEIS. The VMP 
specified treatments to ensure long-term health of vegetation on Bald 
Mountain.
    Alternatives Identified: Three alternatives are analyzed in the 
FEIS. Alternative 1--No Action would result in the existing MDP not 
being updated. The SUP would be renewed in 2007 and the current MDP 
would be made part of it. Under Alternative 2--the Proposed Action--the 
MDP as submitted by SVC would be attached to a new ski area permit. 
Alternative 3 is an alternative which meets the purpose and need to 
update the MDP, but varies from the actions originally submitted by SVC 
in response to issues raised by the public.
    Preferred Alternative: The Preferred Alternative is a slightly 
modified Alternative 3, as described in the DEIS and FEIS. The 
Preferred Alternative consists of a realigned western boundary of the 
SUP addition for the Guyer Ridge trail included in Alternative 3. The 
western boundary would be repositioned in a straight line to connect 
with the western bends of the proposed Guyer Ridge trail. All other 
elements of Alternative 3, as described in the DEIS, remain in the 
Preferred Alternative. These include the following: installation of a 
new gondola, removal of the Exhibition chairlift, adjustment of the SUP 
boundary to include new ski trails, development of new ski trails and 
modification of existing ski runs within the current permit boundary, 
installation of additional snowmaking machinery, implementation of a 
non-significant Forest Plan Amendment for scenery resources, 
modifications to the Roundhouse Restaurant, and implementation of the 
VMP. The Preferred Alternative would reduce the acreage added to the 
ski area's SUP, yet still allow the permittee to glade Guyer Ridge as 
proposed in Alternative 3. In addition, this modification would provide 
the ski area the flexibility to manage the terrain similar to other in-
bounds portions of the ski area.

    Dated: August 16, 2007.
Bill Baker,
District Manager, Twin Falls District, Bureau of Land Management.
 [FR Doc. E7-22502 Filed 11-15-07; 8:45 am]
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