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Environmental Assessment: Alta Ski Lifts Master Development Plan Improvement Projects

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Environmental Assessment: Alta Ski Lifts Master Development Plan Improvement Projects Environmental Assessment: Alta Ski Lifts Master Development Plan Improvement Projects US Department of Agriculture – Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Salt Lake Ranger District Salt Lake City, Utah Prepared with the assistance of: Cirrus Ecological Solutions, LC Logan, Utah April 2018 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotapes, etc.) should contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-2791. To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250 or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity employer. Environmental Assessment: Alta Master Development Plan Improvement Projects CONTENTS List of Tables ........................................................................................................................................ ii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... iii Chapter 1: Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Organization of the Document ............................................................................................................ 1 1.3 Project Area ........................................................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................................. 2 1.5 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Decision to be Made ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.7 Planning Guidance .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.7.1 Forest Plan ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.7.2 Other Planning Guidance ............................................................................................................. 5 1.8 Scoping and Identification of Issues ................................................................................................... 7 1.8.1 Issues Subject to In-Depth Analysis ............................................................................................ 8 1.8.2 Issues Considered but Not Analyzed in Depth .......................................................................... 10 1.9 Required Permits and Authorizations ............................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: Proposed Action ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Alternative Formulation .................................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Alternative 1 – No-Action ................................................................................................................. 13 2.4 Alternative 2 – Proposed Action ....................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Parking ....................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.2 Avalanche Control ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.3 Replacement of Lifts .................................................................................................................. 20 2.4.4 New Lift ..................................................................................................................................... 22 2.4.5 Ski Run Work ............................................................................................................................ 23 2.4.6 Buildings .................................................................................................................................... 24 2.5 Design Criteria .................................................................................................................................. 27 2.6 Alternatives Considered but Not Carried into In-Depth Analysis .................................................... 29 2.6.1 Baldy Tram Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 29 2.6.2 Flora Lift Alternatives ................................................................................................................ 30 2.6.3 Gazex Installation Alternatives .................................................................................................. 31 2.7 Summary and Comparison of Environmental Effects ...................................................................... 31 Chapter 3: Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ........................................................ 36 i Environmental Assessment: Alta Master Development Plan Improvement Projects 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 36 3.2 Disturbance Types and Areas ........................................................................................................... 36 3.3 Cumulative Actions .......................................................................................................................... 38 3.4 Physical and Biological Environment ............................................................................................... 40 3.4.1 Soil, Water, and Watershed Resources ...................................................................................... 40 3.4.2 Vegetation .................................................................................................................................. 59 3.4.3 Wildlife ...................................................................................................................................... 73 3.5 Human Environment ......................................................................................................................... 90 3.5.1 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 90 3.5.2 Scenic Resources ....................................................................................................................... 95 3.5.3 Recreation ................................................................................................................................ 100 3.5.4 Safety ....................................................................................................................................... 104 Chapter 4: Consultation and Coordination ................................................................................................ 107 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 107 4.2 Public Scoping and Notice and Comment on the Proposed Action ................................................ 107 4.3 Other Consultation .......................................................................................................................... 108 Chapter 5: List of Preparers ...................................................................................................................... 109 Chapter 6: References ............................................................................................................................... 110 Appendix A – Mitigaton Measures ........................................................................................................... A-1 LIST OF TABLES Table 1-1. Other permits, approvals, and consultations that may be required for implementation of the proposed action or an action alternative. ........................................................................ 11 Table 2-1. Summary and comparison of environmental effects. ................................................................ 31 Table 3-1. Typical disturbance dimensions1 by project type. ..................................................................... 37 Table 3-2. Disturbance types and acres disturbed under the proposed action. .......................................... 37 Table 3-3. Cumulative actions considered in this analysis. .......................................................................
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