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The Arapahoe Basin 2026 Improvement Projects documents for public view are located at https://usfs-public.box.com/s/wsou2vxbvx0mvy3d6i60bfr9q1lyj943.

The USDA Forest Service is conducting an analysis of the Arapahoe Basin 2026 Improvement Projects. The proposed action is located on the White River National Forest (WRNF), Dillon Ranger District approximately 9 miles east of Dillon, Colorado. The proposed action would occur within Arapahoe Basin’s existing and proposed special use permit (SUP) area administered by the WRNF. This Project has initiated public comment after the publication of the proposed amendment to the regulations at 36 CFR §218 in the Federal Register on February 6, 2026 (91 Federal Register 5387). This Project and the associated environmental compliance document and any potential decision may be subject to the revised administrative review process if the final 36 CFR §218 rule is published before the Project’s objection period is initiated. Otherwise, this Project will follow the administrative review process established prior to the proposed rule.

The Arapahoe Basin 2026 Improvement Projects is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 218.25, comments on this proposed action will be accepted for 30 days beginning on the first day after the date of publication of this notice in Glenwood Springs Post Independent, the newspaper of record. If the comment period ends on a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday, comments will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day. A timely submission will be determined as outlined in 36 CFR 218.25(a)(4). It is the responsibility of the sender to ensure timely receipt of any comments submitted.

The Responsible Official will consider all written comments received. However, in order for your comments to be most useful to the agency’s preparation of the EA, and to retain your opportunity to be considered for possible eligibility to object to the draft decision later in the process, it’s important that you provide your comments prior to the close of the scoping comment period and that you clearly articulate your concerns and contentions. Only individuals or entities (as defined by 36 CFR 218.2) who submit timely, specific written comments (as specified in 36 CFR 218.2) about this proposed action during this comment period established by the Responsible Official will be eligible to file an objection. The Responsible Official does not anticipate providing an additional opportunity to submit written comments other than this scoping period. Other eligibility requirements are specified in 36 CFR 218.25(a)(3) and include, among other requirements, the commenter’s name, postal address, title of the proposed action, and signature or other verification of identity upon request and identification of the individual or entity who authored the comment(s). All written comments received by the Responsible Official, including names and addresses of commenters, shall be placed in the project file and shall become a matter of public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the Agency with the ability to provide the commenter with subsequent environmental documents.

Comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the Responsible Official to consider (36 CFR 218.2).

Submit comments to the Responsible Official, Brian Glaspell, Forest Supervisor, c/o Sarah Strehle, Mountain Sports Permit Administrator by one of the following methods: mail: USDA Forest Service, Dillon Ranger District, P.O. Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498, or electronically (preferred) at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=334175. Office hours, for those who wish to hand deliver their comments, are 8:00am-4:30pm, Monday – Friday (except Federal holidays). Acceptable formats for electronic comments are text or html e-mail, Adobe portable document format, and formats viewable in Microsoft Office applications.