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Loveland Ski Area Parking and Terrain Improvement Project Environmental Assessment

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Loveland Ski Area Parking and Terrain Improvement Project Environmental Assessment LOVELAND SKI AREA PARKING AND TERRAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT February 2021 USDA Forest Service Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland Rocky Mountain Region In accordance In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (such as Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690- 7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Note: We make every effort to create documents that are accessible to individuals of all abilities; however, limitations with our word processing programs may prevent some parts of this document from being readable by computer-assisted reading devices. If you need assistance with this document, please contact the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland at (970) 295-6600. Cover photo credits: Loveland Ski Area and Mountain Stats/MtnStats.com This page intentionally left blank. 1. Purpose and Need 1. Purpose and Need The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests The proposed action has been reviewed for and Pawnee National Grassland (ARP) has consistency with all relevant management prepared this environmental assessment (EA) direction provided by the Forest Plan. in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and The purpose of the proposed parking project other relevant federal and state laws and is to increase the parking capacity of the regulations. The EA contains a summary of Loveland Valley base area to better the environmental impacts of the projects accommodate existing and future guest being pursued as the proposed action. visitation at Loveland. The need for the Technical reports providing detailed proposed parking project is based on the day information on resources analyzed in this EA skier analysis conducted in the 2017 Master can be found in their entirety on the project Development Plan Update (2017 MDP), as webpage. The entire project file can be found well as more current guest visitation and at the Clear Creek Ranger District office of vehicle constraint data. This information the ARP and is available upon request. identifies that the existing parking infrastructure has a current deficit of For general information regarding Loveland approximately 529 parking spaces needed to Ski Area (Loveland) and background properly accommodate the current and information regarding the proposed project, anticipated visitation levels. refer to the notice of proposed action (NOPA) that was published for public review. The purpose of the proposed terrain improvement project is to improve utilization Appendix A of this EA includes the disclosure of existing chairlift-served terrain accessed of a Finding of No Significant Impact. by Chair 3 within this area of the mountain. The need of the proposed trail improvement 1.1 PURPOSE AND NEED OF project is to reduce the grade of trails in the THE PROPOSED ACTION Chair 3 terrain pod, which currently includes The 1997 ARP Land and Resource trail segments that are too steep and off fall- Management Plan (Forest Plan) allocates the line for novice ability level skiers. The project Loveland special use permit (SUP) area as is also needed to increase opportunities for Management Area 8.22 Ski-Based Resorts – beginners. These improvements would make (Existing and Potential) within Management the terrain more suitable for lower ability Area Category 8. The Forest Plan states that level skiers, providing additional trail options lands allocated to Management Area 8.22 for skiers and supporting learning/teaching are “areas with ski-based resorts or potential progression. for ski-based resorts” that “are managed to provide for skiing and related recreational 1.2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND uses” (USDA Forest Service 1997). In IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES accordance with this emphasis on developed External public scoping began in September recreation within ski-based resorts (existing 2020. A NOPA was mailed to 92 community and potential), Loveland proposes to expand residents, interested individuals, public its parking capacity and improve novice agencies, tribal governments, and other ability level terrain with the proposed action. organizations. This notice was specifically 1 LOVELAND SKI AREA | PARKING AND TERRAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 1. Purpose and Need designed to summarize the proposed action Service considered the information gathered and elicit comments, concerns, and issues through public scoping along with the input pertaining to the proposed action. A legal of the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team notice was published on September 1, 2020 (ID Team) in identifying specific resources in the Fort Collins Coloradoan, the that require in-depth analysis in 3. Affected newspaper of record for the ARP, announcing Environment and Environmental the opportunity to comment on the proposed Consequences of this EA. action and initiating a combined scoping and opportunity to comment period for the Resources and issues that are analyzed in project. The combined scoping and detail in this EA are included in Table 1-1. opportunity to comment period closed on October 1, 2020. In response to the Forest Issues may warrant the generation of an Service’s solicitations for public comments, 5 alternative, can be addressed by project letters were received. design criteria or mitigation, or generally From these letters, six substantive comments require in-depth analysis and disclosure. were extracted and categorized by resource Non-issues are beyond the scope of the area. The Forest Service identified specific project, are already decided by law, areas of concern and classified them as regulation, or policy, or are not relevant either issues or non-issues. Substantive to the decision. comments are addressed in a Response to Comments document located on the project webpage in the project file. The Forest Table 1-1. Issues Analyzed in Detail R E SOURCE ISSUE AREA Ground disturbance associated with the implementation of parking and terrain improvements Wildlife may result in impacts to Canada lynx, boreal toad, and/or ptarmigan and raptors. Implementation of the proposed projects has the potential to increase water yield, peak flows, Watershed and and erosion within the watershed. It also has the potential to affect stream and riparian health, Soils including water quality. Ground disturbance associated with the implementation of parking and terrain improvements Wetlands has the potential to disturb wetlands and fens within or adjacent to the project area from grading, tree cutting, and construction activities. Recreation The proposed action would alter the recreation opportunities available to the public at Loveland. Implementation of the proposed projects could alter the scenic resources within the SUP area Scenery and from adjacent views. Traffic and Implementation of the proposed parking lot is anticipated to impact traffic and parking within Parking and adjacent to the SUP area. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2 1. Purpose and Need In accordance with Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Chapter 40, Section 41.22, and 36 CFR § 220.7(b)(2)(ii) this EA will not include an analysis of the no action alternative. Refer to the Issues, Resources, and Alternatives Considered but Not Carried Forward document included in the project file for further discussion on this decision. 1.3 OTHER NECESSARY PERMITS, LICENSES, AND/OR CONSULTATION Decisions by jurisdictions to issue or not issue approvals related to this proposal may be aided by the analyses presented in this EA (per 40 CFR § 1502.25[b]). While the Forest Service assumes no responsibility for enforcing laws, regulations, or ordinances under the jurisdiction of other governmental agencies, Forest Service regulations require permittees to abide by applicable laws and conditions imposed by other jurisdictions. In addition to requisite Forest Service approvals, the following permits
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