Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]

[Notices]

[Page 36024]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 96-17445]

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Notices

Federal Register

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Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 132 / Tuesday, July 9, 1996 /

Notices

[[Page 36024]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS)

SUMMARY: The Salt Lake Ranger District, of the Wasatch-Cache National

Forest, will prepare an EIS on Brighton Ski Resort's (Brighton)

proposal to update their Master Development Plan.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received

in writing by August 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Michael Sieg, District Ranger, 3000

East 6944 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Scheid, Environmental Analyst, (801) 943-9483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Brighton is proposing to update their Master

Development Plan. This update includes the following elements: upgrade

the Snake Creek lift to a high-speed detachable Quad, construct a new

transportation lift between Solitude Ski Resort and Brighton, modify

existing ski trails, which include rock and stump removal and terrain

grading, expand night skiing opportunities, construct new mid-mountain

lodge at the base of the Snake Creek Lift, expand current snowmaking

facilities, and expand the existing hiking and biking trail systems. A

complete description of the proposal and its elements is available from

the Salt Lake Ranger District.

Brighton will 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. They will also be

required to obtain all necessary building and construction permits from

Salt Lake County.

A scoping document has been sent to more than 600 individuals,

organizations and government agencies, detailing Brighton's proposal

for the next planning period. Preliminary issues identified by the

interdisciplinary team include effects of the proposed action on:

visual quality, run quality, year-round recreation experiences, wetland

and riparian areas, water quality and quantity, vegetation, fish and

wildlife, traffic and parking in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and threatened,

endangered and sensitive species.

Two preliminary alternatives have been identified: (1) the proposed

action which would permit the aforementioned projects and require

Brighton to convert to a new Ski Area Term Special Use Permit, and (2)

the No Action alternative which would continue the use as currently

permitted with no new improvements.

The public is invited to submit comments or suggestions to the

address above. This public comment period does not replace the initial

public comment period. All comments received to date will be included

in the EIS. We are seeking new issues, comments and suggestions. The

responsible official is Bernie Weingardt, Forest Supervisor. A draft

EIS is expected to be filed in May, 1997 and the final EIS filed in

September 1997.

The comment period on the draft EIS 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 EIS 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 EIS's must structure their participation in the

environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and

alerts an agency to the reviews' 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 EIS.

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 at a time when it can meaningfully

consider them and respond to them in the final.

Dated: July 2, 1996.

Steven W. Scheid,

District Environmental Analyst.

[FR Doc. 96-17445 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am]

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