[Council Communication]  [Mt. Ashland.pdf]

Council Communication

Title:	Mount Ashland Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Dept:	Administration
Date:	August 5, 2003
Submitted By:	Gino Grimaldi, City Administrator
Approved By: ...........................

Synopsis:	The Forest Service has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion. The DEIS is available for a 60-day comment period that began on July 25, 2003. Representatives of the Forest Service will make a presentation regarding the process that will ultimately result in a Final EIS and final decision by the Forest Service regarding the selection of a preferred alternative. They will also provide a brief overview of the DEIS. Staff is not seeking a discussion and/or endorsement of the alternatives presented in the DEIS. Staff is seeking guidance on how to provide substantive comments regarding the DEIS.
Recommendation:	Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to review the DEIS to determine if the document accurately reflects the impact that each alternative will have on water quality.
Fiscal Impact:	None.
Background:	Attached is a memorandum dated May 1, 2000 from Paula Brown to the Mayor and City Council. The memorandum provides a history of the discussions regarding the expansion of Mt. Ashland and the city's role in the ski area. The memorandum also provides substantive comments regarding the Draft EIS that was released in 2000. The Forest Service is seeking substantive comments to the DEIS. A substantive comment has been defined as "A review comment… that offers a concern with factual basis that may have a bearing on the decision being made." According the DEIS, "substantive comments are more valuable to the Forest Service because they act to: · Provide new information pertaining to any alternative · Identify a new relevant issue or expand upon an existing issue · Identify a different way (alternative) and/or modify existing alternatives considered · Develop and evaluate alternatives not previously considered to meet the underlying need · Identify a specific flaw in the analysis to assist the Forest Service in making factual corrections, and/or supplement, improve or modify the analysis · Ask a specific relevant question that can be meaningfully answered or referenced · Identify an additional source of credible research, which if utilized, could result in different effects Staff is able to provide substantive comments regarding the impact that each alternative will have on water quality. Attachments: · Memorandum from Paula Brown, Public Works Director, dated May 1, 2000 regarding comments on the draft environmental impact statement Mt. Ashland expansion (Exhibit A) · Transmittal letter for the DEIS (Exhibit B) · DEIS Abstract (Exhibit C) · DEIS Executive Summary (Exhibit D) · Memorandum from Paul Nolte, City Attorney, dated June 27, 2002 regarding the role of the city in Mt. Ashland expansion (Exhibit E) · Mt. Ashland Ski Area Lease (Exhibit F)

MtAshland_EIS.pdf (3413.4KB)

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