serving 2014-01-29 through 2014-01-29
30-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR DECISION MEMOS USDA Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Salt Lake Ranger District Salt Lake & Davis Counties, Utah Opportunity to Comment on Salt Lake Ranger District Projects The Forest Service, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District, is conducting environmental analysis on a number of small recreation and special use projects that are proposed on the District and is seeking public comment. The proposed action description and other information are available for review at the Salt Lake Ranger District. These projects are detailed below: A. Recreation /Rec. Special Uses 1. Trails: Contact - Matt Zumstein; 801-733-2670/mzumstein@fs.fed.us. i. Lambs Canyon Trail reroute - The SLRD is proposing to reroute a short section (approx. 1,000 ft.) of the Great Western Trail (# 1900G5) in Lambs Canyon to move the old trail out of the riparian area and to improve the grades and drainage. ii. Desolation Trail reroute - The SLRD is proposing to reroute a short section (approx. 1,500 ft.) of the Desolation trail (#019) in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The proposed reroute is just east of the junction of the Mill D to Dog Lake and Mill D to Desolation trails on the Mill D to Desolation Lake Trail. The reroute is designed to move the trail to a more sustainable location on the side slope to improve the grades (<10%) and drainage of the trail. iii. Great Western Trail (GWT) reroute - The SLRD is proposing to reroute a short section of the GWT (approx. 700 ft.) just west of the junction of the Old Red Pine Trail (# 1315) and Old Red Pine Road in upper Mill Creek Canyon. The reroute is designed to remove the excessive grades and improve drainage. iv. Climbing area stabilization (2 areas) - the SLRD, in partnership with the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, is proposing to construct belay platforms that are anchored by barrier rock and/or gabion baskets and to improve the access trails that lead to climbing areas in Big Cottonwood Canyon at Dogwood (w/in Dogwood Picnic Area) and the Pile (above the "S" curves on SR 190). 2. Ski areas: Contact - Steve Scheid; 801-733-2689/sscheid@fs.fed.us. i. Snowbird Projects 1. Downhill Mountain bike trail segments - Snowbird is proposing to construct downhill mountain bike trail segments accessible from the trail currently under construction in Gad Valley (Gad Valley XC Trail). These downhill spurs would include more challenging routes, dirt terrain features and turns. The route would include three short spurs off the Gad Valley XC Trail and then a longer spur from Bassackwards ski run above the Mid-Gad Restaurant, past the restaurant, and then descending the skier's left side of Big Emma to reconnect with the Gad Valley XC Trail and existing mountain bike trails on Middle Big Emma. b. Matrimony Flats building relocation - Snowbird is proposing to relocate the building that formerly housed the Gad 2 lift drive assembly to the snowcat staging area, just south of the Gad Valley pump house at Snowbird. The building was disassembled last summer when Snowbird replaced the Gad 2 lift. Reconstructing it at the proposed site would complement the staging area by providing enclosed storage space to protect equipment from the elements and improve the cluttered appearance of the staging area. ii. Alta MDP Corkscrew modifications - Alta is Proposing to widen the Corkscrew and address erosion issues in Nina's Curve ski runs, consistent with their accepted Master Development Plan and their goal of maintaining two summer groomed runs top to bottom off each detachable lift to provide reasonable low snow skiing off each lift. B. Non-Recreation Special Uses: Contact - Polly Bergseng (Popola); 801-733-2686/ppopola@fs.fed.us 1. Sprint Fiber optic upgrade - Ferguson Canyon. - Sprint has proposed to upgrade their fiber optics at the currently permitted site at the mouth of Ferguson Canyon, just south of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Ferguson Canyon Communication Site. How to Comment and Timeframe In light of a recent court ruling (Sequoia ForestKeeper v. Tidwell, 11-cv-00679-LJO-DLB (E.D. Cal.)), the Forest Service will provide public notice, comment, and opportunity for administrative appeal for projects and activities documented with a "Decision Memo" (36 CFR 220.6(e)) until new instructions are issued by the Washington Office, or the Agency issues regulations addressing the Court's ruling. In addition, the Forest Service will prepare Decision Memos and offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities for timber sales and proposed approvals of oil or gas exploration and development activities that rely upon Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Only those who provide comment or express interest in this proposal during this comment period will be eligible to appeal the decision pursuant to 36 CFR part 215 regulations. Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral, and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Salt Lake Tribune. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for this analysis. Those wishing to comment should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the length of the comment period. It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them by the close of the comment period. Written comments must be submitted to District Ranger Cathy Kahlow. You may hand deliver your comments during normal business hours from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to comments-intermtn-wasatch-cache-saltlake@fs.fed.us, or submit comments to: Cathy Kahlow District Ranger Salt Lake Ranger District 6944 South 3000 East Salt Lake City, UT 84121 Oral comments must be provided at the Responsible Official's office during normal business hours via telephone 801-733-2660 or in person, or at an official agency function (i.e. public meeting) that is designed to elicit public comments. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to a comment, a verification of identity will be required for appeal eligibility. If using an electronic message, a scanned signature is one way to provide verification. Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to appeal must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 215.6. 935887 UPAXLP
30-DAY COMMENT PERIOD FOR DECISION MEMOS USDA Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Salt Lake Ranger District Salt Lake & Davis Counties, Utah Opportunity to Comment on Salt Lake Ranger District Projects The Forest Service, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Salt Lake Ranger District, is conducting environmental analysis on a number of small recreation and special use projects that are proposed on the District and is seeking public comment. The proposed action description and other information are available for review at the Salt Lake Ranger District. These projects are detailed below: A. Recreation /Rec. Special Uses 1. Trails: Contact - Matt Zumstein; 801-733-2670/mzumstein@fs.fed.us. i. Lambs Canyon Trail reroute - The SLRD is proposing to reroute a short section (approx. 1,000 ft.) of the Great Western Trail (# 1900G5) in Lambs Canyon to move the old trail out of the riparian area and to improve the grades and drainage. ii. Desolation Trail reroute - The SLRD is proposing to reroute a short section (approx. 1,500 ft.) of the Desolation trail (#019) in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The proposed reroute is just east of the junction of the Mill D to Dog Lake and Mill D to Desolation trails on the Mill D to Desolation Lake Trail. The reroute is designed to move the trail to a more sustainable location on the side slope to improve the grades (<10%) and drainage of the trail. iii. Great Western Trail (GWT) reroute - The SLRD is proposing to reroute a short section of the GWT (approx. 700 ft.) just west of the junction of the Old Red Pine Trail (# 1315) and Old Red Pine Road in upper Mill Creek Canyon. The reroute is designed to remove the excessive grades and improve drainage. iv. Climbing area stabilization (2 areas) - the SLRD, in partnership with the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance, is proposing to construct belay platforms that are anchored by barrier rock and/or gabion baskets and to improve the access trails that lead to climbing areas in Big Cottonwood Canyon at Dogwood (w/in Dogwood Picnic Area) and the Pile (above the "S" curves on SR 190). 2. Ski areas: Contact - Steve Scheid; 801-733-2689/sscheid@fs.fed.us. i. Snowbird Projects 1. Downhill Mountain bike trail segments - Snowbird is proposing to construct downhill mountain bike trail segments accessible from the trail currently under construction in Gad Valley (Gad Valley XC Trail). These downhill spurs would include more challenging routes, dirt terrain features and turns. The route would include three short spurs off the Gad Valley XC Trail and then a longer spur from Bassackwards ski run above the Mid-Gad Restaurant, past the restaurant, and then descending the skier's left side of Big Emma to reconnect with the Gad Valley XC Trail and existing mountain bike trails on Middle Big Emma. b. Matrimony Flats building relocation - Snowbird is proposing to relocate the building that formerly housed the Gad 2 lift drive assembly to the snowcat staging area, just south of the Gad Valley pump house at Snowbird. The building was disassembled last summer when Snowbird replaced the Gad 2 lift. Reconstructing it at the proposed site would complement the staging area by providing enclosed storage space to protect equipment from the elements and improve the cluttered appearance of the staging area. ii. Alta MDP Corkscrew modifications - Alta is Proposing to widen the Corkscrew and address erosion issues in Nina's Curve ski runs, consistent with their accepted Master Development Plan and their goal of maintaining two summer groomed runs top to bottom off each detachable lift to provide reasonable low snow skiing off each lift. B. Non-Recreation Special Uses: Contact - Polly Bergseng (Popola); 801-733-2686/ppopola@fs.fed.us 1. Sprint Fiber optic upgrade - Ferguson Canyon. - Sprint has proposed to upgrade their fiber optics at the currently permitted site at the mouth of Ferguson Canyon, just south of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Ferguson Canyon Communication Site. How to Comment and Timeframe In light of a recent court ruling (Sequoia ForestKeeper v. Tidwell, 11-cv-00679-LJO-DLB (E.D. Cal.)), the Forest Service will provide public notice, comment, and opportunity for administrative appeal for projects and activities documented with a "Decision Memo" (36 CFR 220.6(e)) until new instructions are issued by the Washington Office, or the Agency issues regulations addressing the Court's ruling. In addition, the Forest Service will prepare Decision Memos and offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities for timber sales and proposed approvals of oil or gas exploration and development activities that rely upon Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Only those who provide comment or express interest in this proposal during this comment period will be eligible to appeal the decision pursuant to 36 CFR part 215 regulations. Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral, and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Salt Lake Tribune. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period for this analysis. Those wishing to comment should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the length of the comment period. It is the responsibility of persons providing comments to submit them by the close of the comment period. Written comments must be submitted to District Ranger Cathy Kahlow. You may hand deliver your comments during normal business hours from 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to comments-intermtn-wasatch-cache-saltlake@fs.fed.us, or submit comments to: Cathy Kahlow District Ranger Salt Lake Ranger District 6944 South 3000 East Salt Lake City, UT 84121 Oral comments must be provided at the Responsible Official's office during normal business hours via telephone 801-733-2660 or in person, or at an official agency function (i.e. public meeting) that is designed to elicit public comments. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to a comment, a verification of identity will be required for appeal eligibility. If using an electronic message, a scanned signature is one way to provide verification. Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to appeal must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 215.6. 935887 UPAXLP