[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52542-52543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18689]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Caribou Targhee National Forest; Teton County; Wyoming; Grand
Targhee Resort Master Development Plan Projects EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: Grand Targhee Resort (GTR) has submitted a proposal to the
Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF) to pursue approval of select
projects from its 2018 Master Development Plan (MDP). The CTNF is
considering this proposal and is initiating the preparation of an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the
potential environmental effects of implementing the projects. The
proposed action includes: Two areas to be incorporated into the
existing special use permit (SUP) boundary with new terrain and lifts;
lift replacements and realignments within the existing SUP boundary;
additional terrain and on-mountain infrastructure improvements; and
enhancement of non-winter and alternative activities.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by September 25, 2020.
The draft EIS is expected to be available for public review in
March 2021, and the final EIS is expected October 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Mel Bolling, Forest Supervisor, c/
o Jay Pence, Teton Basin District Ranger, Caribou-Targhee National
Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401; or by email at
jay.pence@usda.gov (please include ``Grand Targhee Master Development
Plan Projects'' in the subject line).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the
proposed project can be obtained from: Jay Pence, Teton Basin District
Ranger, Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Mr. Pence can be reached by
phone at 208-354-6610 or by email at jay.pence@usda.gov.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The Forest Service is responding to an application submitted under
the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 and Ski Area
Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011 (SAROEA) by GTR to
implement projects from their accepted MDP. In the MDP, GTR identified
a need to improve the recreational experience and address shortcomings
in their terrain offerings and operations in order to remain viable in
the competitive destination skier/rider market.
To address the growth in the Idaho and Wyoming skier markets and to
provide quality guest experiences for all skier levels, GTR will need
to continue to develop and improve its terrain and guest services
offerings in direct response to evolving consumer demands and the
competitive regional and destination skier markets.
The CTNF, through consideration and acceptance of GTR's MDP, has
identified a need to:
Provide additional undeveloped, minimally maintained lift-
served terrain and additional traditionally cleared alpine trails to
enhance terrain variety and advanced skiing experiences at GTR;
Provide an appropriate learning progression in an
uncongested beginner area and increase the quantity of beginner,
intermediate, and advanced-intermediate skiing terrain to enhance the
skiing experience for beginner and intermediate skiers;
Improve the efficiency of the lift and trail network and
skier circulation across the mountain by providing more reliable and
consistent snowmaking coverage in key areas;
Update and improve facilities and guest services in the
base area and on the mountain to meet the changing expectations of the
local, regional, and destination skier markets; and
Expand alternative snow-based and non-winter activities to
provide a variety of year-round recreational options to guests and to
more effectively utilize existing infrastructure during non-winter
months.
Proposed Action
The proposed action includes the following nine elements:
SUP boundary adjustments to incorporate the South Bowl and
Mono Trees areas into GTR's SUP Area. Combined, these areas total
[[Page 52543]]
approximately 1,200 acres, and would provide approximately 180 acres
(South Bowl) and 97 acres (Mono Trees) of traditional terrain
development and lift construction in these areas;
Construction of two new aerial lifts, one surface lift,
two new beginner carpet lifts, the replacement of the Shoshone Lift,
and the realignment of the Papoose carpet;
Terrain enhancements including trail widening, extensions,
grading, and new traditional and gladed terrain development that would
result in approximately 118 acres of traditional terrain and 550 acres
of gladed terrain;
Implementation of a Mountain Road Rehabilitation Program
to improve existing roads, remove unnecessary roads, and construct new
roads;
Installation of new snowmaking infrastructure to provide
an additional 57 acres of snowmaking coverage;
Construction of two full-service on-mountain guest service
facilities (one at the summit of Fred's Mountain and one at the top
terminal of the Sacajawea Lift), a guest yurt at the top of the
Shoshone Lift, two on-mountain warming cabins (one in Rick's Basin and
the other at the top of Lightning Ridge), and a basic warming hut
within the proposed South Bowl SUP area;
Installation of a permanent snow tubing facility and
expansion of the existing Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and winter (fat)
biking offerings;
Development of six (6) miles of downhill biking trails,
two (2) miles of hiking trails, and 21 miles of multi-use trails.
Development of a summer activity hub around the Shoshone Lift,
including a canopy tour and zip line, aerial adventure course, and disc
golf course; and
Amendment of the 1997 Revised Forest Plan for the Targhee
National Forest (forest plan) in the areas of the proposed SUP boundary
adjustments from management prescription 2.1.2: Visual Quality
Maintenance to management prescription 4.2 Special Use Permit
Recreation Sites. If necessary, other forest plan amendments will be
identified and disclosed in the forthcoming EIS.
A full description of each element can be found at: https://grandtargheeresorteis.org/.
Responsible Official
The responsible official is Mel Bolling, Forest Supervisor for the
CTNF.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the responsible official will review
the proposed action, the other alternatives, and the environmental
consequences in order to decide the following:
Whether to approve, approve with modifications, or deny
the application for the adjustment of GTR's SUP boundary, the
associated projects within the proposed SUP boundary adjustments, and
the projects within GTR's existing SUP boundary;
Whether to prescribe conditions needed for the protection
of the environment on National Forest System lands; and
Whether or not to approve a Forest-wide forest plan
amendment changing the management area boundaries for the SUP
adjustment, as well as any other forest plan amendments necessary
identified in the EIS.
Permits or Licenses Required
Amendment to the Forest Service SUP.
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 projects. During the public scoping comment period a
virtual public open house will be held. Information on the virtual
public open house will be distributed through the project website
(https://grandtargheeresorteis.org/) and other channels of
communication. During the virtual public conference, representatives
from the CTNF and GTR will be available to answer questions and provide
additional information on this project.
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 Parts A and B.
Additional information and maps of this proposal can be found at:
https://grandtargheeresorteis.org/.
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.
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 as well; however, those who participate in the
comment process anonymously will not have standing to object.
Allen Rowley,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-18689 Filed 8-25-20; 8:45 am]
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