BEAVER CREEK MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT November 2011
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BEAVER CREEK MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT November 2011 USDA Forest Service White River National Forest Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ABSTRACT DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE BEAVER CREEK MOUNTAIN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO NOVEMBER 2011 Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor White River National Forest For Information Contact: Don Dressler Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District PO Box 190 Minturn, Colorado 81645 (970) 827-5157 Abstract: This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared to analyze and disclose the estimated environmental effects of implementation of the Beaver Creek Mountain Improvements Project. Beaver Creek Resort is located on the White River National Forest in Eagle County, CO and operates in accordance with the terms and conditions of a Special Use Permit, which is administered by the United States Forest Service. The Proposed Action includes the following components: terrain improvements along the existing men’s Birds of Prey racecourse; strategic trail construction, widening and grading to accommodate the addition of women’s Downhill and Giant Slalom racecourses; new and replaced snowmaking infrastructure; regrading and infrastructure improvements at Red Tail Camp; and replacement of the Red Tail Camp restaurant. This Draft EIS discusses the purpose and need for the Proposed Action; alternatives to the Proposed Action; potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of implementing each alternative; and project design criteria. Two alternatives are analyzed in detail in this DEIS—the No Action (required) and the Proposed Action. Comments on this Draft EIS will be accepted for 45 days from publication of the Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The NOA provides the sole means of calculating the close of the DEIS comment period. Executive Summary Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. INTRODUCTION The proposed projects analyzed in this environmental impact statement (EIS) constitute a federal action (i.e., a decision), with potential to affect the quality of the human environment on National Forest System (NFS) lands. Therefore, these projects must be analyzed pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which directs federal agencies to carefully consider environmental concerns in the decision making process and provide relevant information to the public for review and comment. The Forest Service has prepared this Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in compliance with NEPA and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This DEIS discloses potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects on the human and biological environment estimated to result with implementation of the Proposed Action. B. SUMMARY OF THE PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION Need #1 – Improve upon/expand terrain to meet International Ski Federation (FIS) requirements for both men’s and women’s Alpine race events. Need #2 – Provide a racecourse finish area that meets FIS requirements for larger Alpine race events. Need #3 – Improve on-mountain guest services to accommodate the general public throughout the year and during Alpine race events. Need #4 – Respond to key infrastructural deficiencies related to race storage, water delivery and wastewater. C. SUMMARY OF THE ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED IN THE DEIS ALTERNATIVE 1 – NO ACTION By definition, the No Action Alternative represents a continuation of existing management practices without changes, additions, or upgrades to existing conditions. Under the No Action Alternative, Beaver Creek Resort (Beaver Creek) would continue to host the only men’s World Cup event in the United States. Due to a lack of suitable terrain to host the women’s Downhill, Giant Slalom or Super G, it would not be possible for Beaver Creek to host these women’s events. Beaver Creek Mountain Improvements Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement ES-1 Executive Summary ALTERNATIVE 2 – THE PROPOSED ACTION The Proposed Action is consistent with Beaver Creek’s 2010 Master Development Plan (MDP) Update. Specific projects included in Alternative 2 – the Proposed Action were designed to meet the four elements of the Purpose and Need (listed above and detailed in Chapter 1). Refer to Figure 2, the Alternative 2 Proposed Action figure for the proposed projects. Race Terrain Construct a women’s Downhill course in the Birds of Prey pod, which necessitates widening Flattops and Peregrine, construction of two new trail segments.1 Construct a women’s Giant Slalom course on Grouse Mountain, which necessitates widening existing trails, construction of a new connector trail between Raven Ridge and lower Golden Eagle. Improve the existing Birds of Prey men’s Downhill course, necessitating trail widening just above Westfall Road and strategic re-grading along the racecourse to reduce the need for snowmaking. Construct a new access trail between Goshawk, Peregrine and Golden Eagle that would enable event spectators to reach the middle portion of the men’s Birds of Prey racecourse and women’s Downhill course. Widen an existing utility corridor between Red Tail trail and the Dally catwalk to improve skier/rider circulation when descending to Red Tail Camp from the top of the Centennial Express. Snowmaking infrastructure installation on the two new trail segments and snowmaking infrastructure upgrading on Raven Ridge (requires additional hydrants). Racecourse Finish Area Re-grade the entire Red Tail Camp race finish area. Replace and realign the culverted portion of Westfall Creek that runs through the Red Tail Camp area and culvert an approximate 150-foot stretch of Westfall Creek. Relocate existing utility lines throughout the Red Tail Camp area. Relocated and expand the TV compound to accommodate current and future media needs as well as spectators access related to Alpine racing events. 1 ―Pod‖ is defined as a lift and the terrain in which it is generally associated (i.e., some terrain can be accessed by multiple lifts. Beaver Creek Mountain Improvements Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement ES-2 Executive Summary Guest Services Relocate and replace Red Tail Camp with a larger building (increasing the capacity to roughly 600 indoor and 160 outdoor seats). Infrastructure Projects Install a 24 x 36-foot storage facility west of the top terminal of the Birds of Prey Express. Construct a new 150,000-gallon water tank and pump station on the edge of Paint Brush, adjacent the Beaver Creek Expressway. Install a new water line from the proposed 150,000-gallon water tank to the Beano’s Cabin water line. Upgrade the existing 4-inch domestic water line from Beano’s Cabin to Red Tail Camp to an 8-inch water line. Install approximately 3,000 feet of new sewer line from Red Tail Camp down Dally (extending north onto private land). Table ES-1 summarizes the components of Alternatives 1 and 2. Table ES-1: Summary Comparison of Alternatives Alternative 1 Alternative 2 No Action Proposed Action GUEST CAPACITIES Comfortable Carrying Capacity 15,320 15,320 Manage-To Threshold 13,000 13,000 SUP Area 3,849 acres 3,849 acres TRAILS Number of Trails 148 148 LIFTS Number of Lifts 23 23 PARKING Total Parking Lots 13 13 Total Day Skier Vehicle Capacity 2,836 vehiclesa 2,836 vehiclesa SUMMER RECREATION Trail System Mileage 37.6 37.6 ON-MOUNTAIN GUEST SERVICES Total Seating (both indoor and outdoor) 3,187 3,472 SNOWMAKING COVERAGE Within the Beaver Creek Watershed 179 acres 217 acres ALPINE RACE TERRAIN Men’s FIS Downhill Racecourse Yes Yes (improved) Beaver Creek Mountain Improvements Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement ES-3 Executive Summary Table ES-1: Summary Comparison of Alternatives Alternative 1 Alternative 2 No Action Proposed Action Men’s FIS Super G Racecourse Yes Yes Men’s FIS Giant Slalom Racecourse Yes Yes Women’s FIS Downhill Racecourse No Yes Women’s FIS Super G Racecourse No Yes Women’s FIS Giant Slalom Racecourse No Yes Men’s and Women’s Birds of Prey Birds of Prey racecourse can be Downhill racecourses could be viewed by descending Peregrine to Racecourse Spectator Access accessed via a new access route pumphouse on skiers’ right of constructed between Goshawk and Golden Eagle Peregrine ALPINE RACE INFRASTRUCTURE Red Tail Finish Stadium Spectator ~4,000 spectators ~10,000 to ~12,000 Capacity On-Mountain Equipment Storage Temporary Permanent, 864 square feet Television Compound ~13,500 square feet ~23,500 square feet UTILITIES 2 tanks: 156,000 gallons and Water Storage for Red Tail Camp area 1 tank: 156,000 gallons 150,000 gallons Dally sewer line At/near capacity Additional capacity a Historically, Beaver Creek has worked with appropriate entities such as the state police and area landowners to accommodate event parking. D. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT On December 3, 2010 a scoping package was mailed to approximately 35 community residents, interested individuals, public agencies, and other organizations. The scoping package provided a brief description of the Proposed Action, the purpose and need for action, and an illustrative map. A legal notice was published in the Glenwood Post Independent, and a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register, on December 14th, 2010.