Heather Provencio Forest Supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest has prepared a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Decision Notice (DN) with a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Elk Ridge Ski Area Permit Issuance Project located on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest (NF). The Kaibab NF would issue a Winter Resort Term Permit to the new owners Elk Ridge Recreation I (ERRI) with a term of up to 40-years for the Elk Ridge Ski Area. ERRI would be issued a permit under the existing Master Development Plan. All activities would be within the constraints of the original permit no new or additional activities would take place. Many of these actions are deemed necessary for the cleanup and maintenance of the site and for public safety.
The EA FONSI and draft DN are available on-line at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56909. These documents are also available for review at Kaibab National Forest Forest Supervisors Office. Additional information can be obtained from Sue Farley Environmental Coordinator for the Kaibab National Forest at (928) 635-8331 or susan.farley@usda.gov.
The Elk Ridge Ski Area Permit Issuance Project is an activity implementing a land management plan is not authorized under the HFRA and is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in accordance with §218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
Objections including attachments must be filed via mail fax email hand-delivery express delivery or messenger service (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding holidays) to: Reviewing Officer Cal Joyner Regional Forester 333 Broadway Blvd. SE. Albuquerque NM 87102 FAX: (505) 842-3110 objections-southwestern-regional-office@usda.gov. Electronically filed objections may be submitted by email in word (.doc) portable document format (.pdf) rich text format (.rtf) text (.txt) and hypertext markup language (.html).
Objections must be submitted within 45 calendar days following the publication of this notice in the Arizona Daily Sun. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. The regulations prohibit extending the time to file an objection.
At a minimum an objection must include the following (36 CFR 218.8(d)):
Incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to §218.9. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider employer and lender.
Regional Forester