[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61182-61183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21236]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National 
Grassland; Routt County, Colorado; Steamboat Ski Resort, Steamboat EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The United States Forest Service (Forest Service), Medicine 
Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland 
(MBRTB), is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
consider and disclose the anticipated environmental effects of 
implementing projects proposed by Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation 
(SSRC) at Steamboat Ski Resort (Steamboat). The proposal would occur 
within the resort's existing Special Use Permit area (Permit Boundary) 
that is located on National Forest System (NFS) lands, and would be 
consistent with the 2011 Steamboat Master Development Plan Amendment 
(MDPA). These projects are proposed to improve the quality of guest 
services, increase operational efficiencies, and enhance the recreation 
experience for all skier ability levels.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by September 19, 2016. A public open house regarding this proposal will 
be held at the Steamboat Springs Community Center located at 1605 
Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80427 on August 25th, 2016 from 
5:00pm to 7:00pm. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
to be available for public review in January 2017, and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected September 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Dennis Jaeger, Forest Supervisor, 
c/o Erica Dickerman, Project Leader, Medicine Bow-Routt National 
Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland; 2468 Jackson Street, 
Laramie, WY 82070; FAX (307) 745-2398 or by email to: [email protected] (please include ``Steamboat EIS'' 
in the subject line). Electronic comments must be submitted in Word 
(.doc), Rich Text (.rtf), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
proposed project can be obtained from: Erica Dickerman, Recreation 
Specialist, Hahns Peak Bears Ears Ranger District, who can be reached 
by phone at (970) 870-2185 or by email at [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

    The purpose and need for the action is to: improve the teaching 
terrain for beginner ability level guests to provide for an effective 
and comfortable learning progression; address operational 
inefficiencies and circulation of existing terrain; and provide 
additional lift-served terrain to meet guest expectations for diverse 
terrain offerings.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action consists of the following specific projects:

Rough Rider and Bashor Bowl

    Creation of the Rough Rider Learning Center would include 
installation of a

[[Page 61183]]

gondola (Bashor Gondola, located on private lands), construction of the 
Bashor Children's Facility and Restaurant (located on private lands), 
removal of the existing Bashor Pavilion and bathroom facilities, 
installation of multiple moving carpet lifts, installation of a fixed 
grip chairlift (Rough Rider lift), removal of the existing Rough Rider 
platter lift, construction of a new skier bypass from Boulevard to the 
Rough Rider Learning Center, re-grading of associated novice and 
beginner terrain, and installation of snowmaking infrastructure.
    Proposed improvements within Bashor Bowl include replacement and 
realignment of the outdated Bashor lift (located on both private and 
NFS lands), construction of two new skiways from the realigned Bashor 
lift top terminal, grading at the base of Bashor Bowl, expansion of the 
Rabbit Ears Terrain Park, removal of the Mavericks Superpipe, 
construction of a new novice trail connecting Yoo Hoo to Big Foot, and 
reconfiguration of existing snowmaking infrastructure.

Pony Express

    Proposed improvements within the Pony Express area include: 
Enhancements to trail corridors through vegetation removal, grading, 
and rock blasting; increased capacity of the Pony Express lift by 
adding carriers to the existing lift; construction of a ski patrol and 
restroom facility near the top terminal of the Pony Express lift; 
installation of winch cat anchors; construction of a ski-way from the 
junction of Lower Middle Rib and Chaps ski trails to the Storm Peak 
Express chairlift; and installation of snowmaking infrastructure and 
coverage to Upper and Lower Middle Rib, the Crux, Upper and Lower 
Longhorn, Lower Pony Express lift line, Upper and Lower Storm Peak 
Express Connectors, BC Ski Way, and Chaps.

Pioneer Ridge

    Steamboat proposes to expand the operational boundary by 
approximately 355 acres to encompass Pioneer Ridge, construct a new 
detachable quad chair lift (Pioneer 2 lift), create 95 acres of gladed 
skiing, conduct 40 acres of hazard tree removal and vegetation 
management, install a bridge over Burgess Creek and construct an 
associated collector skiway, and define multiple gladed trails and 
egress routes to connect with existing and proposed terrain and 
facilities.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official is Dennis Jaeger, Forest Supervisor for 
the MBRTB.

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. The 
Responsible Official will also decide what, if any, mitigation 
measures, and monitoring requirements should be made part of the 
decision.

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. A public open 
house for this proposal will be held at the Steamboat Springs Community 
Center located at 1605 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80427 on 
August 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Representatives from the MBRTB, 
Hahns Peak Bears Ears Ranger District, and SSRC will be present to 
answer questions and provide additional project information.
    To be most helpful, comments should be specific to the project area 
and should identify resources or effects that should be considered by 
the Forest Service. Submitting timely, specific written comments during 
this scoping period or any other official comment period establishes 
standing for filing objections under 36 CFR 218 subparts A and B. 
Additional information and maps of this proposal can be found at: 
http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48246.
    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.

    Dated: August 10, 2016.
Carolyn Upton,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016-21236 Filed 9-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P