[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70414-70415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28202]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


White River National Forest; Eagle County, CO; Vail Mountain 
Recreation Enhancements Projects EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Vail Mountain Ski Resort (Vail) recently submitted a proposal 
to the White River National Forest (WRNF) for new and enhanced 
activities within its Forest Service-administered Special Use Permit 
(SUP) area. The WRNF has accepted this proposal, and is initiating a 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to document and 
disclose potential impacts. The Proposed Action--the Vail Mountain 
Recreation Enhancements Project--is built on the goal of fostering 
enhanced opportunities for, and appreciation of, natural resource-based 
recreation on public lands administered by the WRNF. The proposed 
projects are designed to take advantage of existing lift and guest 
service infrastructure across Vail's SUP area and proposed non-ski-
based activities are designed to suit a wide range of visitors to the 
WRNF and the Vail Valley.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 26, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected to be available for public review in August or September 2013 
and the final environmental impact statement is expected in the winter 
of 2013/14.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted online at www.vailreceis.info. 
Send written comments to: Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor, c/o 
Don Dressler, Winter Sports Administrator, White River National Forest, 
P.O. Box 190, Minturn, CO 81645; FAX (970) 945-9343 or by email to: 
[email protected] (include ``Vail Recreation Enhancements Project 
EIS'' in the subject line). Additional details of the Proposed Action, 
figures, the EIS scoping process, how to comment electronically, and 
the overall NEPA process can be viewed at www.vailreceis.info.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
proposed project can be obtained from: Don Dressler, Winter Sports 
Administrator, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, 24747 U.S. Highway 24, 
P.O. Box 190, Minturn, Colorado 81645. Mr. Dressler can be reached by 
phone at (970) 827-5157 or by email at

[[Page 70415]]

[email protected]. 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 Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for Action: In November 
2011, the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 was amended to 
clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding 
additional recreational uses of NFS land that is subject to ski area 
permits, and for other purposes. The Proposed Action was designed in 
response to the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 
2011 (the 2011 Act) which encourages outdoor recreation and enjoyment 
of nature, harmony with the natural environment, and requires (to the 
extent practical) that activities shall be located within the developed 
portions of ski areas.
    As a recreation-based economy, the Vail Valley both relies on, and 
attracts, large numbers of visitors throughout the year, most of 
which--either knowingly or unknowingly--come to recreate on public 
lands. These visitors can be broadly placed into two types: (1) Those 
who are likely to engage in dispersed recreational activities (i.e., 
hiking, biking and camping); and (2) those who seek more organized, 
controlled activities. The need for specialized knowledge, equipment, 
skills and familiarity with the mountain environment can be a 
significant barrier for some visitors to engage in outdoor activities. 
Vail's customer surveys indicate that visitors to the Valley are 
consistently seeking a more diverse range of recreational activities, 
particularly for families, children and the aging, but extending to 
people seeking more adventurous activities. This extends to both non-
skiing and after-skiing activities, as well as an enhanced variety of 
activities in the non-winter months.
    The Need for Action is to respond to Vail's proposal to implement 
activities consistent with the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity 
Enhancement Act of 2011. Based on the aforementioned information, the 
Purpose of Action is to:
    1. Provide new and innovative forms of year-round, outdoor 
recreation on NFS land for visitors to the Vail Valley.
    2. Utilize existing lift and guest service infrastructure 
throughout Vail's SUP area to support new recreational activities.
    3. Capitalize on the relationship between the WRNF and Vail Resorts 
to connect people with the natural environment and enhance 
understanding and appreciation of the purpose and value of public 
lands.
    Proposed Action: The Proposed Action includes the 13 elements, 
identified below. A full description of each element can be found at: 
www.vailreceis.info.

 Educational Opportunities and Interpretive Information
 Game Creek Canopy Tour
 Front Side Canopy Tour
 Adventure Ridge Forest Flyer
 Pride Express Forest Flyer
 Rappel Activity at Adventure Ridge
 Expanded Hiking and Mountain Bike Trails
 Riparian Experience at Adventure Ridge
 Family Forest Park at Adventure Ridge
 Modified Horse Trail in Game Creek Bowl
 Observation Decks and Towers at Adventure Ridge and Wildwood
 Reconfigured Talon's Deck and Barbeque Area at Eagles Nest
 Wedding Deck at The 10th
    As a whole and individually, proposed projects have been designed 
to harmonize with, and benefit from, the natural setting of the NFS 
lands within Vail's existing Forest Service-administered SUP area. They 
are designed to both complement and improve the existing non-skiing 
recreational opportunities that are currently offered on NFS lands at 
Vail Mountain. All of the proposed projects rely on the Alpine forest 
setting on NFS lands within the Vail SUP, either because of the natural 
surroundings (such as the forest canopy) or because of the natural 
conditions (such as topography and vertical relief).
    Due to engineering, planning and resource considerations, the WRNF 
and Vail are in the process of finalizing many of the proposed project 
locations and specifics across the project area. While some proposed 
project locations are considered accurate at this time (e.g., 
observation decks and the wedding deck), others are more conceptual, 
and will be further refined in the coming months as site-specific 
mapping and updated engineering/planning/design data is considered 
(e.g., Forest Flyers and canopy tours). Finally, while the conceptual 
areas and extents of proposed hiking and mountain bike trails have been 
identified across Vail Mountain, the precise locations of any approved 
trails would be determined on a case-by-case basis (in coordination 
with Forest Service specialists, as appropriate) to arrive at a design 
that is both functional and minimizes/eliminates resource impacts.
    Responsible Official: The Responsible Official is Scott 
Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor for the WRNF.
    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 that may be developed by the Forest Service as a 
result of scoping.
    Scoping Process: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process, which guides the development of the environmental impact 
statement. 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 
projects. 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 environmental impact statement. 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.
    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 environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    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.

    Dated: November 13, 2012.
David Neely,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2012-28202 Filed 11-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M