[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 79 (Monday, April 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 21716]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10065]



[[Page 21716]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District Small Sales EIS, Idaho 
Panhandle National Forests, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the environmental effects of 
expanding the Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area. The proposal would 
implement revised portions of the Lookout Pass Master Development Plan 
approved by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (IPNF) on June 10, 
1997. A Special Use Permit would be required for the proposed action, 
which would authorize additional development, construction, and 
operation of ski area facilities on National Forest System lands.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by May 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send written comment to Barry Dutton, Land & Water 
Consulting Inc., P.O. Box 8254, Missoula, MT 59807.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Dutton or Nancy Winslow at Land 
and Water Consulting Inc., (406) 721-0354, or Glenn Truscott at the 
Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District, (208) 644-2318.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed activities are located adjacent 
to the existing ski area, approximately 6 miles east of Mullan, Idaho, 
and adjacent to Interstate 90 at the Idaho/Montana border. The new 
project area is on the north and south flanks of Runt Mountain at the 
upper ends of the St. Regis and Coeur d'Alene Rivers. The existing ski 
area is on the east side of Runt Mountain, which is also in the 
headwaters of the St. Regis and Coeur d'Alene Rivers.
    Lookout Pass Ski Area currently covers approximately 202 acres on 
Runt Mountain. The ski area and proposed expansion project straddle the 
Montana-Idaho border and the boundary between the Lolo and Idaho 
Panhandle National Forests. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests have 
been designated the lead regulatory agency for the project. The 
proposed action would increase the ski area by 364 acres, to a total of 
approximately 566 acres.
    The proposed expansion would include 11 new ski runs (covering 
approximately 145 acres), 6,800 feet of new chair lifts, one primitive 
road between ski runs (for tree removal, chair lift construction, and 
possibly skier use), and 1 acre of new parking. The existing lodge 
would be expanded by 4,000 square feet. A 6,400 square-foot guest 
services building would be added to provide meeting rooms, a U.S. 
Forest Service interpretive center, child care facilities, caretaker's 
quarters, and overnight lodging. The rental show would be enlarged by 
1,100 square feet and 960 feet would be added to the maintenance 
building. The existing fueling station would be upgraded, and 20 
recreational vehicle (RV) hook-ups would be added to the existing 
parking lot. Approximately 1 acre of the of the rope tow and beginner 
areas would be regraded and revegetated. The septic system that serves 
the lodge, guest services building, and rental shop would be expanded. 
Water would be supplied by an existing well near the base area.
    The proposed action would add approximately 920 vertical feet of 
skiing on the south side of Runt Mountain in the Lolo National Forest. 
In addition, 1,240 vertical feet of skiing would be added on the north 
side of Runt Mountain in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. New ski 
runs would be classified as expert and advanced-intermediate. Two new 
chair lifts would serve the new ski runs: one on the north side of runt 
Mountain and one on the south side of Runt Mountain. The power line to 
the ski area has sufficient capacity to meet the anticipated needs of 
the proposed expansion.
    All of the proposed buildings, RV hookups, new parking, and septic 
systems would be located in the existing base area adjacent to 
Interstate 90. Disturbed soil areas outside the base area would include 
primitive trails between runs (for timber harvest, construction, and 
possibly skier use), lift tower foundations, lift stations, buried 
water lines, and buried power lines. Limited soil disturbance would 
occur during stump removal on ski runs.
    There would be no private land development associated with the 
proposed expansion. All of the proposed development would occur 
entirely within National Forest System lands. No inventoried roadless 
areas would be affected by the proposed expansion.
    The USDA Forest Service is the lead agency for this proposal. 
District Ranger Susan Jeheber-Matthews is the responsible official.
    The Forest Service believes it is important at this early stage to 
give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, 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 reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts 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 45-day comment period 
on the draft EIS so 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 environmental impact 
statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specified as possible. It 
is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

    Dated: April 11, 2000.
Susan Jeheber-Matthews,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 00-10065 Filed 4-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M