[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 65 (Friday, April 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18878-18880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07524]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Idaho Panhandle National Forests and Lolo National Forest; 
Shoshone County, ID and Mineral County, MT; Lookout Pass Ski Area 
Expansion Third-Party Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNFs) and Lolo National 
Forest (LNF) are preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to 
consider and disclose the anticipated environmental effects of a 
proposal from Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area (Lookout Pass) to 
expand its special use permit to upgrade and develop new lifts, ski 
terrain, parking, access roads, and guest service facilities. The 
proposed project is located approximately 12 miles east of Wallace, 
Idaho, on National Forest System (NFS) lands within Shoshone County, 
Idaho, and Mineral County, Montana.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by May 5, 2014. The Draft EIS is expected to be available for public 
review in winter 2015 and the Final EIS is expected in summer 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to SWCA Environmental Consultants, 
1220 SW Morrison St., Suite 700, Portland, OR 97205. Comments may also 
be sent via email to [email protected], via facsimile to (503) 224-1851, online through the 
project Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php?project=43757, or in-person at the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger 
District, Fernan or Smelterville offices, or the Superior Ranger 
District. Include ``Lookout Pass Ski Area Expansion Third-Party EIS'' 
in the subject line. Comments submitted electronically must be 
searchable or readable with optical character recognition software.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
proposed project can be obtained from the project Web site, http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php?project=43757, by contacting the 
Lookout Pass Ski Area Expansion Third-Party EIS NEPA Contractor, Sue 
Wilmot, at (503) 224-0333 ext. 6324, or by emailing: [email protected]. 
Further information will also be made available at three public open 
houses:
     April 22, 2014, 5-7 p.m. at the Black Diamond Ranch (120 
Borgia Haugan Frontage Rd., De Borgia, MT).
     April 23, 2014, 5-7 p.m. at the Wallace Inn (100 Front 
Street, Wallace, Idaho).
     April 24, 2014, 5-7 p.m. at the Coeur d'Alene Forest 
Supervisors Office (3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho).
    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: The purpose of the proposed Lookout 
Ski Area Expansion is to provide a high-quality downhill skiing 
recreational opportunity on the IPNFs and LNF. Lookout Pass ski terrain 
is insufficient to meet market demands, resulting in diminished 
recreational experiences and reduced economic viability for the ski 
area. In the Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area Master Development 
Plan, Lookout Pass specifically identified three social, economic, or 
physical factors that necessitate the development of additional terrain 
in order to ensure continued, publicly acceptable ski operations. These 
factors are (1) diminished skier experiences associated with 
overcrowding, increased skier congestion, decreased safe operating 
conditions, and inefficient skier transport during high-visitation days 
as well as inefficient skier transport and trail use on low-visitation 
days; (2) current ski terrain distribution that does not match market 
demand; and (3) concerns over the economic viability of Lookout Pass 
and its ongoing contribution to the local economy. Expansion of Lookout 
Pass would address these needs by providing more skiable terrain and 
more efficient lift systems to enable the ski area to remain 
economically viable while ensuring a high-quality recreation experience 
for a wider range and number of skiers. This action would move the ski 
area toward a desired condition outlined in the Idaho Panhandle 
National Forests Land Management Plan and the Lolo National Forest Plan 
and respond to the Forest Plans' goals and objectives.
    Proposed Action: The IPNFs and LNF propose to expand the existing 
Lookout

[[Page 18879]]

Pass boundary through a new special use permit to encompass an 
additional 650 acres of Forest Service lands. Administration of these 
lands is split between the IPNFs in Shoshone County, Idaho, and the LNF 
in Mineral County, Montana. Approximately 55% of the additional acreage 
would fall within the IPNFs and 45% would fall within the LNF.
    Ski Trails and Terrain: The Proposed Action would construct 15 new 
ski trails, providing a total of 85 new acres of traditional ski 
terrain. New connector ski trails would add about 24 acres of novice 
terrain and provide access to proposed and existing lifts and terrain. 
The remaining 61 acres would provide new low intermediate to advanced 
intermediate terrain and reduce crowding and skier conflicts on high-
visitation days.
    Construction of traditional terrain ski trails would require the 
removal of all trees within the ski trail corridor. Some partial 
removal would also occur along ski trail edges and in leave islands. 
Timber harvest during ski trail construction would be conducted using 
ground-based yarding systems and slash, including limbs and large woody 
debris, would be either removed or burned.
    In addition to traditional ski terrain, creation of about 9 acres 
of gladed terrain is proposed. Beetle-killed and infested trees would 
be removed, and wood waste would be chipped and used for erosion 
control, cut for firewood, or piled and burned on site.
    Lifts: Lift 1 would be upgraded from a two-passenger lift to a 
four-passenger lift to increase skier capacity. A new drive terminal, a 
return terminal, and 14 line towers would be installed to support this 
upgrade. Existing access roads would be used for construction and 
maintenance of upgraded Lift 1; no new road construction would be 
required.
    Two new lifts--Lifts 5 and 6--would be constructed in the proposed 
expansion area to provide skier access to new traditional and gladed 
terrain. Lift construction would occur within tree-cleared corridors. 
Lift 5 would be approximately 5,200 feet long with a vertical rise of 
approximately 1,300 feet. It would serve six trails and provide access 
to the Lift 6 ski trails. Lift 5 would be installed as a fixed-grip 
lift for two, three, or four passengers. Lift 6 would serve six trails 
and would provide access back to the Lift 5 trails. The lift would be 
approximately 2,800 feet long with a vertical rise of approximately 800 
feet, and would be installed as a fixed-grip, two-passenger lift.
    Lift terminals and towers would be transported to each site using 
logging equipment (forwarders, tractors, or skidders).
    Powerline: Proposed Lifts 5 and 6 would be powered via an 
underground power cable extending from the bottom of existing Lift 1 to 
the bottom drive terminals of proposed Lifts 5 and 6. The approximately 
12,000 feet of buried cable would be installed within new and existing 
ski trails and along proposed temporary roads.
    The powerline would cross one unnamed spring-fed creek near the 
base of Lift 6. The cable would be either directionally drilled under 
the creek or installed using an open-cut method. The creek would be 
restored to pre-construction or better condition, and erosion and 
sediment control measures would be installed to reduce streambank and 
upland erosion and sediment transport into the waterbody.
    Parking: The Proposed Action would add 6.6 acres of parking to 
accommodate an additional 130 vehicles and buses. Approximately 50 
parking spaces and a turn-around area would be added north of the 
existing overflow parking area. Ingress and egress for users of the 
Northern Pacific Railroad Trail would be maintained. An additional 80 
parking spaces would be created in two locations south of the existing 
paved parking area; one on the west side of the access road and another 
on the west side of the existing railroad grade. Ingress and egress for 
other users would be maintained.
    No snowmobile off-loading or trailer parking would be designated or 
permitted within the special use area boundary.
    Maintenance Facilities: A new maintenance shop and adjacent 
concrete fuel tank pad would be constructed just south of the existing 
fueling pad station to support ski operations. A 0.03-mile new, 
permanent gravel road would be constructed to provide access between 
the maintenance facilities and the lodge.
    Guest Service Facilities (ski patrol service building and 
restroom): A ski patrol service building and warming hut would be 
constructed at the top of proposed Lifts 5 and 6. The log structure 
would be similar to the existing ski patrol service building and would 
be powered by propane or fuel cell technology to provide heat and 
light.
    The Proposed Action would also include construction of a two-stall 
Romtec restroom structure in the vicinity of the proposed Lift 5 bottom 
terminal, just off existing NFS Road 18591 along a proposed new 
permanent road.
    Roads and Access: Approximately 4.3 miles of existing and new roads 
would be constructed or reconstructed to Forest Service standards by 
the permittee to facilitate timber harvest and Lookout Pass maintenance 
and operations. These roads would be closed to public travel during 
project implementation and after completion.
    Entry to the project area during the timber harvest and 
construction phases would occur via existing NFS Roads 9132, 4208, 
18591, and 3026A, requiring approximately 0.5 mile of reconstruction on 
Road 18591.
    Approximately 2.2 miles of new, permanent roads would also be 
constructed to provide long-term, annual use by Lookout Pass for 
maintenance and operations. Planned new permanent roads would be 
constructed to Forest Service standards. Motorized vehicle access would 
be permitted for Forest Service administrative use and by Lookout Pass 
for maintenance and operations, but all other motorized access would be 
prohibited.
    Approximately 1.6 miles of temporary roads would be constructed, 
primarily on existing ski trails, jeep tracks, or other primitive 
trails and unmanaged Forest Service roads to minimize vegetation and 
soil disturbance. Temporary roads would be constructed for logging of a 
single entry only and would be decommissioned following this activity.
    Low-impact temporary roads would also be needed to access the lift 
tower locations. These would be made with a small trackhoe traversing 
cross-country and removed at the conclusion of construction activities.
    Upon construction of the proposed new permanent road, Forest 
Service Undetermined Roads 37315 and 37315-1 would be decommissioned. 
These roads provide duplicate access to areas that would be accessed by 
the proposed new permanent road and represent a higher risk to area 
resources because they are not managed by the Forest Service or 
constructed to current Forest Service-specified road standards.
    Forest Plan Amendment: The Proposed Action would include an 
amendment to the Lolo National Forest Plan. This amendment would change 
approximately 173 acres from Management Area (MA) 9 (concentrated 
public use), 13 acres from MA 13 (riparian areas), and 107 acres from 
MA 24 (timber production with high visual sensitivity) to MA 8 (ski 
areas).
    For the IPNFs, the Proposed Action would change approximately 85 
acres from MA 1 (timber production) and 89 acres from MA 9 (non-forest 
lands) to

[[Page 18880]]

MA 17 (developed recreation) under the current Idaho Panhandle National 
Forests Land Management Plan (referred to as the Forest Plan). However, 
if any of the action alternatives are selected as part of the record of 
decision for the IPNF's ongoing Forest Plan revision, all lands 
potentially affected by the Proposed Action would fall within MA 7 
(primary recreation areas) and would not require a Forest Plan 
amendment.
    Responsible Official: Mary Farnsworth, Forest Supervisor, Idaho 
Panhandle National Forests, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 
83815.
    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 amend the current special use permit 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 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 Draft EIS. The 
Forest Service will use the significant issues raised during the 
scoping process to formulate alternatives, prescribe mitigation 
measures and project design features, and 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 
specific facts, concerns, or issues, and the supporting reasons.
    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 allow the 
Forest Service to provide the respondent with subsequent environmental 
documents.

    Dated: March 28, 2014.
Lisa A. Timchak,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-07524 Filed 4-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P