PROJECT INFORMATION Bromley Glade Skiing Project

The USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region Winter Sports Team is proposing to authorize Bromley Ski Resort to expand glade skiing/riding opportunities within their ski permit area, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. The project is located on National Forest System lands in the Town of Peru, Bennington County, Vermont on the Manchester Ranger District of the Green Mountain National Forest. (see attached map).

BACKGROUND The Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) specifies a wide range of recreation opportunities, including highly developed recreation opportunities, as a goal for the Management Areas (MA) that includes Alpine ski areas. The Green Mountain National Forest administers Bromley Resort under a Ski Area Special Use Permit (SUP). Bromley Resort was founded in 1937 and is located on the Manchester Ranger District, six miles east of Manchester, Vermont on Route 1l and is operated by Bromley Equity Limited Partnership under a SUP, issued in April 1993 and due to expire in 2033.

PURPOSE AND NEED Bromley currently has four glade trails, designed for more advanced skiers/snowboard riders. Glade skiing/riding popularity is increasing, and Bromley would like to broaden glade skiing/riding opportunities to accommodate the lower and intermediate level skier/rider. This would introduce lower skill level skiers/snowboarders to glade skiing/riding in a safe manner within their ability. Authorizing the creation of these proposed glade trails would meet the increasing demand of glade trails and provide a safer environment for lower level glade skiers/riders.

PROPOSED ACTION To meet the purpose and need, the Forest Service proposes to allow Bromley to expand their glade skiing/riding opportunities to accommodate the lower skill level skier/rider. Two of the proposed glade trails would be located near the bottom of the mountain and designed for beginner level skiers/ riders, and would be approximately 350 – 400 feet long and 40 -50 feet wide. The third proposed glade trail would be higher on the mountain designed for intermediate/advanced level skiers/riders and would be 50 – 70 feet wide. Most of this trail would be on non-National Forest lands with approximately 300 feet on National Forest lands. The trails being proposed consist of fairly open wooded areas of northern hardwood/spruce. Vegetation management practices mirroring that which was used in creating Orion glade trail would be implemented. This would leave islands or clusters of trees/understory for regeneration. There would be minimal disturbance and no heavy equipment or machinery used in creating the trails. Most of the work would be done with chainsaws, pole saws, and pruners. Pruning would consist of removal of appropriate branches and limbs using an estimated snow depth of 3 to 4 feet. Material cut would be lopped and left on site. Whole trees would be ‘bucked’ and used to fill depressions, hollows, and /or tucked up against rock faces. All naturally occurring drainages would remain untouched. The intent would be to leave the healthy forest canopy intact.

Bromley Glade Skiing Project Information Page 1

FOREST PLAN CONSISTENCY The project area at Bromley is located on lands designated as Alpine Ski Areas, MA 7.1, in the Forest Plan. The proposal is consistent with the Forest Plan goals and objectives, and Standards and Guidelines. Implementation would begin during summer or fall 2014, with completion by the fall of 2015.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Our environmental analysis will consider your comments as well as those provided by a Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team comprised of resource specialists. The proposed action appears to be in a category that can be excluded from documentation in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) as identified in 36 CFR 220.6. (e). The analysis and supporting documentation will be the basis for determining whether the proposed action can be categorically excluded in a Decision Memo or whether additional analysis is needed.

The environmental analysis will include surveys for rare plants and heritage resources, and will identify any extraordinary circumstances that may exist and could result in significant effects to the environment.

In accordance with 36 CFR 220.6 (b), the following specific resource conditions will be considered:

1) Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species; 2) Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds; 3) Congressionally designated areas; 4) Inventoried Roadless Areas; 5) Research Natural Areas; 6) American Indians and Alaska Native Religious or Cultural Sites; and 7) Archaeological Sites, or Historic Properties or Areas.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Public comments received for the project proposal will help focus the environmental analysis on the resource issues of concern. The analysis will be the basis for the final decision.

Bromley Glade Skiing Project Information Page 2

DECISIONS TO BE MADE After conducting and reviewing the environmental analysis, including public involvement and interdisciplinary resource specialist input, the Responsible Official will make the following decisions:

1. Whether the proposed project will proceed as proposed, as modified to address issues, or not at all; 2. What specific resource protection or mitigation measures should be implemented as part of the project; 3. Whether the project would have environmental impacts at levels that may require an EA or EIS; and 4. What monitoring requirements should be applied to the project.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL William F. Jackson, Manchester District Ranger, Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, is the Responsible Official for the decision on this proposal.

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 for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Bromley Glade Skiing Project Information Page 3