Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion
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United States Department of RECORD OF DECISION Agriculture Forest Service Mt. Ashland Ski Area Pacific Northwest Region - Pacific Southwest Region Expansion September Rogue River -Siskiyou National Forest 2004 Ashland Ranger District Klamath National Forest Scott River Ranger District RECORD OF DECISION MT. ASHLAND SKI AREA EXPANSION FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Pacific Northwest Region Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Ashland Ranger District Pacific Southwest Region Klamath National Forest Scott River Ranger District Jackson County, Oregon September 2004 Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Responsible Official: Scott D. Conroy Forest Supervisor For Further Information Contact: Linda Duffy, Ashland District Ranger; or Steve Johnson, Project Leader Ashland Ranger District 645 Washington Street Ashland, OR 97520 Phone: (541) 552-2900 Record of Decision Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... ROD – 1 Background .......................................................................................................... ROD – 1 Purpose and Need.................................................................................................. ROD – 2 THE DECISION ..................................................................................................... ROD – 3 DESCRIPTION OF DECISION ................................................................................. ROD – 3 Table ROD-1 Modified Alternative 2............................................................................ ROD – 4 Required Mitigation Measures .................................................................................. ROD – 5 Monitoring ........................................................................................................... ROD – 6 DECISION RATIONALE ......................................................................................... ROD – 6 Response to Purpose and Need ............................................................................... ROD – 11 Response to Significant Issues ................................................................................. ROD – 18 Other Issues ......................................................................................................... ROD – 35 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED .............................................................................. ROD – 35 ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE .................................................... ROD – 40 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ........................................................................................ ROD – 40 FINDINGS ........................................................................................................... ROD – 42 Forest Plan Consistency (NFMA) .............................................................................. ROD – 42 Other Legal Requirements and Policies ...................................................................... ROD – 44 IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................... ROD – 45 Permits, Authorizations, and Bonding ................................................................... ROD – 45 Process for Change During Implementation ................................................................. ROD – 46 APPEAL PROCESS AND RIGHTS) .......................................................................... ROD – 46 ATTACHMENTS A MAP - Modified Alternative 2 (11 x 17 inch foldout) B Required Mitigation Measures C Monitoring Plan Record of Decision Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion INTRODUCTION This Record of Decision (ROD) documents my decision and rationale for the selection of a course of action to be implemented for Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was issued August 2004, concurrent with this ROD. The FEIS documents analysis of a site- specific project proposal to expand a portion of the Mt. Ashland Ski Area. This proposal and analysis is tiered to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and its Record of Decision (ROD) for Mt. Ashland Ski Area, released in July of 1991. The focus of this analysis is on a March 2002 proposal to develop a portion of the ski area programmatically approved in the 1991 “Master Plan”. The 2004 FEIS for Ski Area Expansion analyzes options for authorizing expansion activities at this time, including the No-Action option. The FEIS is prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). This Forest Service analysis involves categories of Federal actions (decisions) that procedurally require the preparation of an EIS (FSH 1909.15, section 20.6). The FEIS contains analyses that are consistent with NEPA and the CEQ regulations (40 CFR 1500). The Rogue River-Siskiyou, and Klamath National Forests are jointly responsible for public land management of the Special Use Permit area. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has been authorized to make decisions regarding implementation of ski area expansion activities at Mt. Ashland under the terms of a February 4, 2004 Intra-Agency Agreement (No. 03-IA-11061002-005), between the Klamath National Forest (KNF) and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RR-SNF). Under this agreement, “The Rogue shall...Accept, analyze and approve permittee’s project proposals and improvements, and administer all winter sports related Special Use Permit Activities. This includes, but is not limited to, all NEPA document and the future management of the Ski Area as defined on the Special Use permit map encompassing Klamath National Forest System Lands.” The Responsible Official (the Decision Maker) for this ROD is therefore the Forest Supervisor of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The RR-SNF is the lead unit for this NEPA analysis and the Ashland District Ranger under delegated authority from the Forest Supervisor has led the analysis, guided the interdisciplinary team and coordinated the public involvement process. Background The Mount Ashland Ski Area (MASA) is an existing winter sports recreation area located within the Siskiyou Mountains in Southern Oregon on National Forest System Lands (NFSL), and is operated under special use authorization issued by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Ashland Ranger District (see Vicinity Map, inside front cover). A small portion of the ski area is located on the Klamath National Forest. MASA is located about 7 air miles south of the City of Ashland, primarily within the Ashland Creek Watershed (see Map I-1). This municipal watershed serves as the source of drinking water for the City of Ashland. Ski area construction began in 1963. The currently existing ski area development consists of a day lodge, a ski rental shop building, ancillary structures, four chairlifts, and approximately 123 acres of ski runs. A parking lot for approximately 550-600 vehicles is located south of the lodge along Forest Road 20. The legal location description for all actions being considered is T. 40 S., R. 1 E., within portions of sections 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22, W.M., Jackson County, Oregon. The Mt. Ashland Association (MAA) currently leases the ski area from the City of Ashland, holder of a Forest Service Special Use Permit (SUP) for the MASA. According to its bylaws, MAA operates the ski area for the City of Ashland as “a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Oregon exclusively to provide educational and recreational opportunities in Jackson County, Oregon, to members of the general public.” MAA is proposing this expansion, and is therefore the “proponent”. MAA is responsible for all financial aspects of construction of improvements related to proposed ski area expansion. The role of the USDA Forest Service is to analyze a Proposed Action as it would affect National Forest System Lands and to consider authorization of MAA to implement actions. The Forest Service has not invested public funds to propose and design an expanded ski area; the responsibility for this lies with the proponent. The Forest Service has the responsibility (and obligation) to analyze a proposal for an action on Federally managed lands and to conduct analysis under NEPA, that would determine the appropriateness of authorizing action. Record of Decision ROD - 1 Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion Purpose and Need The overall objective for MASA expansion proposal is two fold: 1) Provide facilities necessary for an enjoyable and diverse recreation experience, which would ensure long-term economic viability of MASA and maintain the competitive position of MASA with other ski areas in the local and regional market, and 2) Maintain and/or take advantage of opportunities to restore the conditions in the four affected sub-watersheds and be consistent with Forest Plan direction. The Forest Service overall Purpose and Need focuses on maintaining and/or enhancing environmental resources and providing the public quality recreational opportunities in an outdoor natural setting on NFSL. The basis for accomplishing this is contained in Federal laws and Forest Service policy directives, the Forest Plans, and the Special Use Permit. This direction also provides the Forest Service the authority for ski area management on National Forest System Lands. Therefore, the underlying Forest Service Need is: