[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21855-21856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9425]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rio Grande National Forest, Divide Ranger District; Mineral 
County, CO; Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Rio Grande National Forest is preparing an Environmental 
Impact Statement to analyze the environmental effects of the proposed 
Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange. This project includes the 
conveyance of approximately 177 acres of a non-Federal land parcel 
owned by the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture (LMJV) to the United States 
in exchange for National Forest System lands totaling approximately 204 
acres. The non-Federal parcel is located in T37N., R2E., NMPM, Mineral 
County, CO, Sections 4, 5, 8 and 9, a portion of Tract 37. The Federal 
parcel is located in T37N., R2E., NMPM, Mineral County, CO, Sections 3, 
4, 5, and 9.

DATES: Formal scoping on this project begins on April 20, 2011. Public 
open houses will be held 4:30-7 p.m. on April 25, in Creede, CO at the 
Creede Community Center; April 26 in Pagosa Springs at the Aragon 
Recreation Center, CO and April 27 in Del Norte at the Rio Grande 
County Annex Building, CO. Comments concerning the scope of the 
analysis should be received by June 4, 2011. The draft environmental 
impact statement is expected in December, 2011 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected in March, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Rio Grande National Forest, 
Divide Ranger District, 13308 West Highway 160, Del Norte, CO 81132. 
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to: [email protected] or via facsimile to 1-719-657-6035.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
proposed project can be obtained from the Forest webpage at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande. For further information, contact Tom Malecek 
at (719) 657-3321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: In 1986, a Decision Notice for the Environmental 
Assessment of the Proposed Wolf Creek Land Exchange allowed the 
conveyance of 300 acres of National Forest System (NFS) land on the 
Divide Range District adjacent to the Wolf Creek Ski Area (WCSA) in 
exchange for non-Federal lands located within the Saguache Ranger 
District on the Rio Grande National Forest. In 2004, the Forest Service 
initiated an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in response to a 
request for legal access to the property, under the Alaska National 
Interests Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), in order to allow the 
private landowners the ability to begin development of the Village at 
Wolf Creek. In March 2006, a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed, 
approving transportation and utility corridors across NFS lands. In 
February 2008, as part of a Settlement Agreement, the ROD was 
withdrawn. In September 2008, the Forest Service initiated a new EIS 
after receiving a new application for permanent road access from the 
proponent. Early in the project analysis, the project was placed on 
indefinite hold pending new information and potentially a new 
application.
    LMJV has submitted this current land exchange proposal as an 
alternative to an ANILCA enabled easement under the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act (FLPMA), as the Federal parcel abuts US Highway 160.
    Purpose and Need for Action: The non-Federal party, LMJV, holds 
title to land within the boundaries of the NFS, and as such ``* * * the 
Secretary shall provide such access to non-federally owned land within 
the boundaries of the National Forest System as the Secreatry deems 
adequate to secure to the owner the reasonable use and enjoyment 
thereof * * *''
    Therefore, the Rio Grande NF's Purpose and Need for Action is to 
allow the non-Federal party to access its property as legally entitled, 
while minimizing environmental effects to natural resources within the 
project area. Any method of accommodating access to private land in the 
project area needs to be cognizant of and sensitive to the operations 
and recreational experiences at Wolf Creek Ski Area, which is adjacent 
to the non-Federal parcel and operates under a Special Use Permit from 
the Rio Grande NF.
    Proposed Action: Given the non-Federal party's legal right to 
access its property and the United States legal obligation to provide 
access to the inholding, the Rio Grande NF believes that a land 
exchange may be in the public interest and thus merits additional 
evaluation. Potential public benefits include:
     Development of private lands further away from Wolf Creek 
Ski Area, reducing impacts to skiers and ski area operations.
     Locating residential development and associated 
infrastructure in an area that is more suitable due to topography, 
natural resources, and proximity to US Highway 160.
     A net gain of wetlands and perennial streams in public 
ownership.
     A lower density development.
     The land exchange would obviate the need for ANILCA 
access.
    The Proposed Action involves the conveyance of approximately 178 
acres of non-Federal lands to the United States in exchange for NFS 
lands totaling approximately 204 acres. Upon conveyance of the non-
Federal parcel to the United States, the newly acquired NFS lands would 
be managed by the Rio Grande NF per its 1996 Land and Resource 
Management Plan, as amended. The lands proposed for inclusion in the 
land exchange are summarized below.

Non-Federal Lands Proposed To Be Conveyed to the United States

     Township 37 North, Range 2 East, N.M.P.M., Mineral County, 
Colorado
     Sections 4, 5, 8, and 9: A portion of Tract 37
     Total Area: Approximately 178 acres
    In total, the non-Federal parcel is approximately 300 acres in 
size, of which approximately 178 acres are proposed to be conveyed to 
the United States. The non-Federal parcel is located approximately 20 
miles southwest of South Fork and 25 miles northeast of Pagosa Springs 
in Mineral County, Colorado.
    The non-Federal parcel is located just east of Wolf Creek Pass at 
approximately 10,300 feet in elevation and is comprised of spruce-fir 
forest, open meadows and wetlands. The non-Federal parcel adjoins NFS 
lands on all sides and is located within the Wolf Creek Ski Area permit 
boundary.

[[Page 21856]]

    Federal Lands Proposed to be Conveyed by the United States to the 
Non-Federal Party:
     Township 37 North, Range 2 East, N.M.P.M., Mineral County, 
Colorado
     Sections 3, 4, 5, and 9: A portion thereof
     Total Area: Approximately 204 acres
    The 204-acre Federal parcel is just north and east of the non-
Federal parcel, with the remaining portion of the non-Federal party's 
land separating the two. The Federal parcel is immediately contiguous 
to US Highway 160 and has similar habitat types as the non-Federal 
parcel.
    Alternative to the Proposed Action--Permanent Easement to the Non-
Federal Parcel (ANILCA Alternative): As an alternative to a land 
exchange, the Rio Grande NF will analyze a potential ANILCA enabled 
easement under FLPMA across NFS lands to provide access to, and allow 
development of, the non-Federal parcel.
    Common To Both Alternatives: Common to the proposed action and 
ANILCA access alternative:
    1. LMJV's conceptual plans for the Village at Wolf Creek indicate 
that full buildout would include a four-season resort with a variety of 
hotels, homes and condominiums; approximately 200,000 square feet of 
commercial space; and ancillary infrastructure such as roads, water 
treatment and storage, wastewater treatment and disposal, and power 
distribution.
    2. A grade separated interchange off Highway 160 capable of 
handling full-buildout traffic estimates would be required to be built 
at the initial stage of development.
    Responsible Official: The responsible official is Dan Dallas, Rio 
Grande National Forest Supervisor, San Luis Valley Public Lands Center, 
1803 West Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: Although the Rio Grande NF received 
a proposal for the land exchange from a private entity, this is now a 
Forest Service Proposed Action, which will be analyzed in detail in an 
EIS. The EIS will analyze potential impacts to the physical, human and 
biological environment that may result from implementation of the 
Proposed Action. Issues raised during this public scoping period may 
generate additional alternatives to be considered along with the 
proposed action.
    A Record of Decision (ROD) will be issued following completion of 
the analysis in the EIS. Based on the analysis in the EIS, the 
Responsible Official will decide whether to authorize the Proposed 
Action, the No Action Alternative (required for inclusion in an EIS) or 
any action alternative(s) given detailed analysis in the document.
    Scoping Process: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process, which guides the development of the EIS. The Forest Service is 
soliciting comments from Federal, State and local agencies and other 
individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by 
implementation of the proposed project. Public questions and comments 
regarding this proposal are an integral part of this environmental 
analysis process. 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 EIS. The Forest 
Service will identify significant issues raised during the scoping 
process, and use them to formulate potential additional alternatives, 
prescribe mitigation measures and project design features, or analyze 
environmental effects.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of 
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's 
concerns and contentions.
    Please note the following public open houses during this scoping 
period: 4:30-7:00 p.m. on April 25, in Creede, CO at the Creede 
Community Center; April 26 in Pagosa Springs, CO at the Aragon 
Recreation Center; and April 27 in Del Norte, CO at the Rio Grande 
County Annex Building.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this Proposed Action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide 
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents.

    Dated: April 13, 2011.
Kathy M. Kurtz,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2011-9425 Filed 4-18-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P