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Revision to Solitude Mountain Resort Master Development Plan Update, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District, Salt Lake County, UT

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: March 2, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 42)]
[Notices]
[Page 11283-11284]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02mr00-31]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision to Solitude Mountain Resort Master Development Plan
Update, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District, Salt
Lake County, UT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Salt Lake Ranger District, of the Wasatch-Cache National
Forest, will conduct a new public scoping process and prepare an EIS on
Solitude Ski Resort's (Solitude) revised proposal to update their
Master Development Plan.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing by April 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Daniel J. Jiron, District Ranger,
6944 South 3000 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Scheid, Project Manager, (801)
733-2689.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solitude is proposing to revise its Master
Development Plan Update. During the spring and summer of 1995, Solitude
Ski Resort submitted to the Forest Service an updated Master
Development Plan (MDP) detailing proposed ski area and facility
modifications. Public comment was initially solicited on August 4, 1995
through the issuance of a scoping document, followed by a public
meeting on August 25, 1995. A second public scoping notice was issued
for Solitude in July 1996, after the Forest Service determined that an
EIS needed to be prepared. A public field review was also held in
September 1997 to view and discuss proposed projects and potential
alternatives for Solitude's MDP update.
    The planning horizon for Solitude's original MDP update was
approximately five years. Due to the substantial elapse of time (four
years), there is now a need to extend the planning horizon of
Solitude's MDP update. In addition, Solitude's desire to address public
and Agency issues pertaining to their proposed facilities has resulted
in a

[[Page 11284]]

number of additions and modifications to the MDP update. The vast
majority of projects originally proposed for Solitude's MDP update
remain unchanged. Solitude's proposal, if approved, would require
Forest Plan amendments to incorporate projects located outside its
special use permit boundary; install the proposed Sol-Bright lift; meet
the proposed expansion of Solitude's skiers at one time (SAOT)
capacity; meet visual quality objectives (VQO's) for existing and
proposed parking areas and the proposed Highway accelerations and
deceleration lane improvements.
    Solitude proposes to improve their base facilities by replacing
their outdated Main and Eagle Express lodges with two new buildings,
which will house ski operations, skier services (restrooms, food
service, day care, ski school and ski patrol) and a connected Salt Lake
County Fire Station. They also propose to construct additions to the
existing Moonbeam Center and Last Chance Mining Camp day lodges to help
alleviate overcrowded conditions.
    Solitude's proposed base area projects include the following: a
landing pad for rescue helicopters, recreational vehicle hookups,
expanding Moonbeam parking lot, upgrading base transportation and
visitor circulation systems, a satellite and communications base
station, and upgrading the snowmaking system (stream diversion points,
a pump house and dredging Lake Solitude) to provide snowmaking capacity
for 250 acres.
    Solitude is also proposing to upgrade its lift system by
constructing three new double chairlifts, a pulse gondola for internal
resort (base area) transportation and upgrading three existing lifts to
high-speed detachable quads. They are also proposing numerous
improvements to their trail system and a new trail near the Sunrise
lift. Solitude is also proposing to provide lighted nighttime
activities including sliding, snowboarding, skiing, and ice skating
adjacent to the Village base area. Solitude is also proposing
summertime recreation use improvements by upgrading its mountain bike
trail system and constructing an alpine slide.
    Additional information on the proposed actions is available through
the Salt Lake Ranger District office. Before any decision is made on
this proposal, Solitude must obtain the following: a water change
application from the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of
Water Rights, State Engineer; all applicable building permits from Salt
Lake County; a 404 permit from the Army Corps of Engineers; and
consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency.
    A scoping document, dated August 4, 1995, was sent to more than 540
individuals, organizations, and local and state government agencies. A
second scoping notice, dated July 16, 1996 was sent to more than 250
individuals, organizations, and local and state government agencies.
Preliminary issues identified by a Forest Service interdisciplinary
team include effects on riparian and wetland areas, visual quality,
transportation, parking, wildlife and vegetation, soil erosion, and
water quality and quantity in a culinary watershed. Two preliminary
alternatives have been identified. The proposed action alternative
would permit Solitude to implement all of its proposed upgrades and may
require Solitude to convert to a new Ski Area Term Special Use Permit.
The no action alternative would permit use as it presently exists with
no new improvements.
    The public is invited to submit comments or suggestions to the
address above. The responsible official is Bernie Weingrardt, Forest
Supervisor. A Draft EIS is expected to be filed in December of 2000 and
the final EIS filed in November of 2001.
    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 during that time. To be 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 the
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 position and contentions. Vermont
Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (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 objectives are made
available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully
consider them and respond to them in the final EIS.

    Dated: February 25, 2000.
Daniel J. Jiron,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 00-5005 Filed 3-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

 
 

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