[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 15759-15760] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-8777] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Alta Ski Lifts, UT; Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement on Alta Ski Lifts proposed master plan update. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received in writing by May 7, 1996. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Michael Sieg, District Ranger, 6944 South 3000 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Cruz, District Environmental Coordinator, (801) 943-2667. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alta Ski Lifts, a ``Special Use Permit'' permittee is proposing to update its master plan. Much of the resort's permitted boundary lies on National Forest System Land. This proposal includes the following elements; modify the Blitz run to provide a path for intermediate skiers to enter Main Street from the current top terminal of the Collins Chair Lift; replace the Sunnyside and Albion lifts and add a new rope tow east of the Wildcat Ticket Office; modify parts of the Devil's Elbow, Roller Coaster, and Crooked Mile runs; and add additional snowmaking capacity which would include a four million gallon reservoir system. The proposal also includes; remodeling the Albion Day Lodge, Albion Ticket Office and the General Office building; replacing Watson Shelter; constructing two new generator buildings, one on the end of the existing maintenance building and the other near the bottom terminal of the Supreme Chairlift; relocating the Germania ski patrol building; remodeling both the Albion and Supreme Patrol buildings, and widening the upper Grizzly parking lot to recapture 28 parking slots lost to mass transit over the last decade. A complete description of the proposal and its elements is available from the Salt Lake Ranger District. In addition to obtaining a new Ski Area Term Special Use Permit from the Forest Service, Alta will also be required to obtain a Department of Army 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers and consult with the Environmental Protection Agency. They will also be required to obtain an amendment of water supply permit agreement from Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities and a Water Change Application from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water Rights, State Engineer. A scoping document was sent to over 600 individuals, organizations and government agencies on September 24, 1993, detailing Alta's proposal for the next planning period. An additional scoping document has been sent to over 625 individuals, organizations and local and state government agencies explaining the decision to conduct an environmental impact statement, and soliciting additional comments. Preliminary issues identified by the interdisciplinary team include effects on visual quality, effects on run quality, effects on wetland and riparian areas, effects on water quality and quantity, effects on vegetation, effects on fish and wildlife, effects on traffic and parking in Little Cottonwood Canyon and effects on threatened, endangered and sensitive species. Four preliminary alternatives have been identified. The proposed action which would permit the aforementioned projects and require Alta to convert to a new Ski Area Term Special Use Permit. An alternative which would protect the unique quantities of Albion basin. No Action which would continue the use as currently permitted with no new improvements and an alternative that would maximize improvements without creating significant environmental effects. The public is invited to submit comments or suggestions to the address above. Comments received from individuals, groups and government agencies received from the September 1993 scoping will be incorporated into this analysis. The responsible official is Bernie Weingardt, Forest Supervisor. A draft EIS is expected to be filed in August 1996 and the final EIS filed in January 1997. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of availability appears in the Federal Register. It is very important that those interested in this proposed action participate at that time. To be the most helpful, comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible and may address the adequacy of the statement or the merits of the alternatives discussed (see The Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3). In addition, Federal court decisions have established that reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewers' position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 533 (1978). Environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft stage may be waived if not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact statement. City of Angoon v. Hodel, (9th Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). The reason for this is to ensure that substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service [[Page 15760]] at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final. Dated: March 29,1996. Robert A. Cruz, District Environmental Coordinator. [FR Doc. 96-8777 Filed 4-8-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M