The Inyo National Forest welcomes your comments on the proposal to initiate an Environmental Assessment (EA) process for the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) Snowmaking and Woolly’s Adventure Summit Projects. The United States Forest Service (Forest Service) will complete an EA that will be used to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
This Notice of Proposed Action (NOPA) has been prepared to solicit public comments in response to the Purpose and Need for Action the Proposed Action and potential alternatives to the Proposed Action. Potential effects of the Proposed Action on the human and biological environment will be analyzed and disclosed in an EA which will consider public comments received in response to this NOPA. If the Forest Service determines there are no significant impacts the EA along with a draft Decision Notice and FONSI will be published for a 45-day objection period. If no specific written comments are received during this designated opportunity for comment the project will not be subject to objection. Following the 45-day objection period the Forest Service will publish a final Decision Notice and FONSI. If the EA concludes there is potential for significant impacts an EIS will be prepared.
Please note that this 30-day period is serving as both scoping and the sole comment period for the Proposed Action. There will not be another opportunity to comment. Only those who comment during this comment period will have standing to object. The date of the legal notice of opportunity to comment on this proposed action in the Inyo Register is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period.
Comments including anonymous comments will be accepted at any time. However comments posted after the close of this designated comment period may not be able to be given full consideration. Anonymous comments and comments submitted after the close of the final designated comment period will not provide the commenter standing for administrative review.
The Forest Service values public participation. Communications from the public regarding this project including commenter’s names and contact information will become part of the public record.
Comments or in some cases other expressions of interest along with respondent’s contact information submitted during the comment period are necessary to establish a respondent’s eligibility to participate in an administrative review for this proposed action. Interested members of the public should review the proposal’s information to determine the applicable administrative review process and the eligibility requirements for that process. The date of the legal notice of opportunity to comment on this proposed action in the Inyo Register is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period.
Janelle Walker
