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Comments including anonymous comments will be accepted at any time. However comments posted after the close of a 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 may be 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.

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The Mt. Hood National Forest (the Forest) has identified you as an individual agency group or organization that might be interested in the following special uses project proposals. The Forest completed an internal review of the project proposals and has selected the following activities to be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Some of these decisions may be documented in a decision memo. Other project proposals that were received were either not accepted or were identified for other environmental review efforts which would be addressed in future scoping efforts.

There are a variety of projects that are included in this scoping notice. The following information provides the anticipated level of documentation for consolidated decisions as well as a brief overview of each project.

Overview of projects

Projects related to the repair and maintenance of recreation sites and facilities and trails (36 CFR 220.6(d)(4) and 220.6(d)(5)) and are not anticipated to have documentation in a decision memo:

Paradise Trail Christian Camp:

• Reconstruct an existing fire escape on the main lodge with in-kind materials and footprint. This project is needed to provide a structurally sound fire escape. 
• Reconstruct an existing porch on the main lodge with in-kind materials and footprint.  This project is needed to replace worn materials and provide a structurally sound deck.
• Reinforce existing rock walls using rocks piled on site to delineate the lodge septic field lodge planter beds and the front parking area.  This project enhances the area appearance and removes an ingress/egress blockage from the front and back of the lodge.
• Reconstruct an existing small detached shed with an in-kind replacement.  The current shed is rotting; significantly limiting its use.  This project is needed in order to utilize the shed for storage purposes.
• Install a new gate to control non-customer access on an existing access route to the camp. The access route is on the east side of Road 39 approximately 75 yards north of the lodge. The route is being used by non-customers resulting in degradation of the area.

Cascadia Center for Arts and Crafts:

• Construct a pavilion atop an existing concrete slab approximately 30 feet by 30 feet (previously used for a garage building which is no longer present). The concrete slab would be incorporated into the interior floor. A new code-compliant foundation would be constructed around the perimeter of the concrete slab. The purpose of the pavilion is to accommodate four-season activities and events.

Portland Post Office Community Club (PPOCC Inc):

• Reconstruct an existing porch to provide a more historically accurate and safer design. The current deck is approximately 4 feet by 4 feet with steep stairs and no hand rails.  The proposed deck would be approximately 21 feet by 5 feet and would provide wider steps and handrails to improve safety and access for those with disabilities.

Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp Inc.:

• Improve existing septic infrastructure that includes the installation of a new septic tank new grease interceptor new 1500 gallon dosing tank to improve waste water processing and decommissioning a 3000 gallon septic tank. The purpose of this septic infrastructure maintenance is to provide a more efficient waste management system with a longer lifespan to reduce chances of leaks and contamination.

Mt. Hood Meadows Oreg. LLC:

• Re-contour and rehabilitate the current halfpipe area (including revegetation) to previous conditions in order to increase utilization of the terrain and reduce sedimentation transport.

Projects related to the additional construction and reconstruction of utility infrastructure (36 CFR 220.6(e)(2)) are anticipated to have documentation in one or more decision memos and are described below:

Mt. Hood Meadows Oreg. LLC:

• Install additional fiber optic line through a parking lot connecting two existing buildings (Hood River Meadows Lodge and the Nordic Lodge).  The proposed fiber optic line would span a distance of approximately 1300 feet and would provide improved network communication including public Wi-Fi at the Nordic Lodge.
• Replace the existing (approximately 6000 foot long) powerline that extends from the Generator Shop on the west end of the main parking area to the Mazot eatery. The current high voltage line was installed in 1974 and provides power throughout the ski area.  The purpose of this project is to prevent potential future failures which could jeopardize public safety.

Projects related to the approval modification or continuation of minor special uses that require less than five contiguous acres of land (36 CFR 220.6(e)(3)) and are anticipated to have documentation in one or more decision memos are described below.

Mt. Hood Meadows Oreg. LLC:

• Widen the Middlefork ski run to meet racing standards.  This project would bring this ski run (course) to the required International Ski Federation standards of a width of approximately 40 meters for safety of the racers. This proposal includes tree felling and limbing on either side of the existing Middlefork ski run.
• Install a new waterline to connect to an existing well. The waterline would be approximately 3 inches in diameter and would extend approximately 2100 feet in an approximately 3-foot deep trench along existing service roads. To power an electric pump to move the water a splice vault would be installed at an existing powerline and 100 feet of buried powerline would go to the transformer pad that would be placed next to the well. This project is needed to provide a direct connection from the well to the main domestic water supply. It would provide a secondary source of water for MHM in the event the main spring is ever compromised.
• Install two permanent conveyor systems including associated utility installation and concrete footings.  The conveyors are needed to provide more terrain for beginner skiers/snowboarders adding recreational opportunities for all levels of ski area users.
• Install an approximately 2000 square foot exterior deck and a vault toilet at the Mazot building. This project would provide additional accessible seating and toilet facilities at the existing Mazot.

Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp Inc.:

• Rebuild the existing hemlock dormitory building rebuild the retaining wall that provides support to an access road and protection to the building from slides. The project may include hazard tree removal. The rebuilding of the dormitory would include a re-pour of a new (larger) concrete foundation to support a two-story frame and ADA access. In addition the existing waste water system would be improved with the proposed installation of three septic tanks and an improved storm water drainage system would be installed. The purpose of this project is to improve ADA access and improve visitor experience.

Cascadia Center for Arts & Crafts:

• New construction of a vault toilet is needed to provide year-round use to accommodate students attending various activities and events on the permit property.

Teacup Lake Nordic Club:

• Relocate the existing snowmobile shed to improve snow removal operations around the existing restroom facility and to relieve the undesirable visitor congestion of snowmobile traffic and beginner skiers in a busy location where all of Teacup Nordic’s guests pass through. The new location for the shed would require tree removal.
• Install two new vault toilets. This project would provide additional restroom facilities in a busy user area and would allow Teacup Nordic to suspend the practice of relying on portable toilets when existing facilities fill to capacity

Projects related to research activities (7 CFR 1b.3(a)(3)) and are not anticipated to have documentation in a decision memo are described below.

United State Geological Survey Cascade Volcano Observatory:

• Installation and maintenance of four seismometer stations within the Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area permit area boundary. The new stations would be used to research avalanche detection within Heather Canyon and other locations at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Area to improve avalanche detection.
• Issuance of a new special use permit for installation and maintenance of one Earthquake Early Warning System (ShakeAlert®) located near Highway 224 and Ripplebrook Oregon. The station would be constructed in an existing disturbed area in the vicinity of the Ripplebrook Heliport; and the station would be a maximum size of 40 feet long and 160 feet wide. Additionally the proposal includes the modification and maintenance of four existing stations. The purpose of ShakeAlert® is to allow for rapid detection of earthquakes and provide scientific and engineering research data.

Portland State University Dr. Ashley Streig:

• Excavating a paleosismic trench at approximately N45°17’38” W121°40’33”. The trench would measure approximately six feet deep eight feet across and thirty-two feet long.  Use is proposed as temporary for two to four weeks. The excavated site would be rehabilitated to previous conditions after use. The purpose of this project is to better understand the spatial and temporal distribution of slip along the Mt. Hood fault zone so its impact on regional seismic hazard can inform regional seismic hazard assessment.

If you have information you feel the Forest Service may not be aware of or have concerns regarding any of the projects listed above please send us your scoping comments in writing before May 24 2020. Comments received in response to this scoping notice including names and addresses of those who comment will be considered part of the public record for this project and will be available for public inspection and released if requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Electronic comments may be submitted to comments-pacificnorthwest-mthood@usda.gov. Due to the current concerns regarding the Covid-19 pandemic I would like to strongly encourage you to submit comments electronically.  However if this is not possible then specific written comments may also be submitted via mail to the Zigzag Ranger District ATTN: Special Uses Projects 2020; 70220 E Highway 26 Zigzag OR 97049. Because of Covid-19 and the Executive Order by Governor Brown comments should not be hand-delivered at this time. Offices are currently closed due to COVID-19. For additional information please contact Nathan Fletcher Special Uses Permit Administrator at: (503) 680-3100.

/s/ Richard Periman

Richard Periman Forest Supervisor Mt. Hood National Forest