Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort Master Development Plan Wallowa- Whitman National ForestUnion, Baker and Grant Counties, Oregon

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort Master Development Plan Wallowa-

Whitman National Forest--Union, Baker and Grant Counties, Oregon

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) for Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort's (ALMR) proposed

Master Development Plan (MDP). The proposed development includes

construction of one new chairlift, relocation of the existing handle

tow and replacement with a short chairlift, and construction of one new

surface lift. In addition, the proposed MDP includes the addition of

approximately 1.2 acres of ski terrain, renovation of the day lodge,

construction of a small on-mountain food services facility, enlargement

of parking areas by 2.4 acres, an addition to the maintenance shop,

construction of a snowmobile rental and staging area, and other

utilities and infrastructure required to support resort upgrades.

The agency gives notice of the full environmental analysis and

decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so that

interested and affected people may become aware of how they may

participate and contribute to the final decision.

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

by January 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposal to Charles L.

Ernst, District Ranger, 3165 10th Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814.

Fax: 5(41) 523-1965.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Charles L. Ernst,

District Ranger, 3165 10th Street, Baker city, Oregon 97814. Phone

(541) 523-4476.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would increase the year-

round recreational opportunities within the existing Special Use Permit

Boundary (2,046 acres). Implementation of the proposed MDP would

increase the Comfortable Carrying Capacity (CCC) from 600 Skiers-At-

One-Time (SAOT) to 1,200 SAOT.

Presently, alpine skiing/snowboarding and other resort activities

are provided to the public through a Special Use Permit (SUP) issued by

the Forest Service and administered by the Wallowa-Whitman National

Forest (WWNF).

Purpose and Need: To resolve existing operational deficiencies at

ALMR. To meet public expectations for quality recreational experiences

through the improvements proposed at ALMR in the MDP.

The purpose of the proposed action and alternatives considered is

to equip ALMR with the necessary base area and on-mountain amenities to

meet current and anticipated future demand for alpine recreation and

the expectations of the skiing public on the WWNF at ALMR. The specific

proposed improvements are oriented toward the rehabilitation of the

resort by rectifying existing deficiencies and providing a resort-wide

balance of capacities. In addition, the proposed action would provide

financial stability and growth potential to ALMR, while respecting

natural resources and other issues of importance to the Forest Service

and the public, thereby insuring that ALMR provides the public with a

quality recreational experience with the implementation of the MDP and

into the future.

Review and analysis of the relevant national and local market data

indicate there is an ever-increasing level of customer awareness of

quality, service, and value in the ski experience. Progressive ski

areas have catered to the changing demands of the skier population by

providing quality accommodations, a heightened service orientation, a

refined, and technologically improved ski experience, and other

recreational amenities. Ski areas that have invested in faster and more

comfortable ski lifts, snowmaking capabilities, terrain expansion, and

increased trail grooming have created higher expectation of quality and

service among the skiing public. ALMR competes with other ski areas in

the local and regional marketplace, the majority of which have recently

made or are in the process of undertaking substantial facilities

improvements. Conversely, declines in capital investment for facilities

upgrades at ALMR have led to erosion of market share and may eventually

lead to a decline in skier visitation. The need for the proposed action

is generally demonstrated by the stagnation of skier visitation to ALMR

over the past decade and evidence of significant export of skier visits

to other ski resorts, particularly outside the local market. Stagnant

visitation has occurred despite population growth in the local market

area. On this basis, actions proposed under the MDP are necessary for

ALMR to remain competitive, and to provide the level of customer

service expected by the skiing public and the Agency.

The Proposed Action: The proposed action would increase

recreational opportunities within the existing SUP area (2,046 acres).

Implementation of the proposed MDP would increase the CCC from 600 SAOT

to 1,200 SAOT. The proposed development includes: construction of one

new chairlift; replacement of the handle tow with a short chairlift;

construction of one new surface lift; addition of approximately 1.2

acres of ski terrain; expansion of the existing day lodge; construction

of a small on mountain food service facility; seasonal use of a yurt

(circular tent); snowmobile rental and staging facility to support

ongoing public use of National Forest System lands to the north of the

resort; a 2.4 acre expansion of parking areas; expansion of the

maintenance facility and other utilities and infrastructure required to

support the proposed MDP.

Management Direction: The proposed MDP tiers to the Wallowa-Whitman

National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as

amended. The ALMR SUP area is located within Management Area 16--

Administrative and Recreation Site Retention. Although alpine and

downhill skiing are not directly addressed in the Forest Plan,

pertinent direction is presented on pages 4-92 and 4-93. For a more

detailed

[[Page 68427]]

description of Management Area 16, refer to the Forest Plan.

Public Involvement: Public Involvement will be especially important

at several points during the analysis, beginning with the scoping

process. The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, and

assistance from Federal, State, local agencies, tribes and other

individuals or organizations who may be interested in, or affected by

the proposals. The scoping process includes:

1. Identifying and clarifying issues.

2. Identifying key issues to be analyzed in depth.

3. Exploring alternatives based on themes which will be derived

from issues recognized during scoping activities.

4. Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposals and

alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and

connected actions).

5. Determining potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.

6. Developing a list of interested people to keep apprised of

opportunities to participate through meetings, personal contacts, or

written comments.

7. Developing a means of informing the public through the media

and/or written material (e.g., newsletters, correspondence, etc.).

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names

and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the

public record on this proposed action and will be available for public

inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and

considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have

standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Part 215 or

217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request

the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing

how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality.

Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the

FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited

circumstances, such as to protest trade secrets. The Forest Service

will inform the requestor of the agency's decision regarding the

request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the

agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the

comments may be resubmitted with or without names and addresses within

thirty (30) days.

Public comments are appreciated throughout the analysis process.

The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) in October 1999 and will be available for public review at

that time. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the

date the EPA publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal

Register. The final EIS is scheduled for completion in April of 2000.

The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers

notice of this early stage of public participation and of several court

rulings related to public participation in the environmental review

process. First, reviewers of the draft EIS must structure their

participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is

meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's positions and

contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,

553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could have been raised

at the draft stage may be waived or dismissed by the court if not

raised until after the completion of the final EIS. City of Angoon v.

Hodel, 803 f.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages,

Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of

these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this

proposed action participate by the close of the comment period so

substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest

Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider and respond to them

in the final EIS.

In the final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to

substantive comments and responses received during the comment period

that pertain to the environmental consequences discussed in the draft

EIS and applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making

a decision regarding the proposal. The responsible official is Karyn L.

Wood, Forest Supervisor for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The

responsible official will document the decision and reasons for the

decision in the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to

appeal under 36 CFR part 215 or part 251.

Dated: December 2, 1998.

Kurt R. Wiedenmann,

Acting Forest Supervisor, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.

[FR Doc. 98-32951 Filed 12-10-98; 8:45 am]

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