LEGAL NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT
USDA FOREST SERVICE
ARAPAHO AND ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FORESTS AND PAWNEE NATIONAL GRASSLAND, SULPHUR RANGER DISTRICT
WINTER PARK RESORT PROJECTS 2025 EA
The USDA Forest Service has prepared a final environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Winter Park Resort Projects 2025. The proposed action is located within the special use permit area of Winter Park Resort in the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland (ARP) near Winter Park, Colorado. The responsible official for this decision is Christopher J. Stubbs, ARP Forest Supervisor.
The responsible official is planning to implement the proposed action, which proposes to develop a dedicated, on-mountain learning center at Discovery Park along with new aerial and surface lifts, trail grading, and ski school facilities. It would expand overall snowmaking coverage, conduct trail improvements through vegetation removal, remove dead and dying trees in the Jelly Roll Glades area, and construct a new restaurant on Vasquez Ridge to replace the existing Sundance Chili Hut. The proposed action would also remove the existing Looking Glass chairlift and expand terrain onto Cooper Creek summit via a new chairlift (with access roads and utilities) with associated snowmaking coverage.
The final EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Winter Park Projects 2025 are available upon request at the Sulfur Ranger District office, 9 Ten Mile Dr., Granby, CO 80446. This document is also available online at the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/arp/projects/66200. Additional information regarding this proposed action can also be obtained from Matt Loscalzo, Project Manager by e-mail at Matthew.Loscalzo@usda.gov.
The Winter Park Resort Projects 2025 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.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in The Coloradoan, the newspaper of record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objectors should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). Objections that do not adhere to these requirements make review of an objection difficult and are conditions under which the reviewing officer may set aside an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10. All eligible objections are available for public inspection. Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the objection reviewing officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=66200.
Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g., Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received.
Note: any person who wishes to fax an objection, contact Scarlett Vallaire, Administrative Review Coordinator via phone at 801-989-6605 or email at scarlett.vallaire@usda.gov.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO, 80401.
Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Attn: Reviewing Officer, C/O Director of Strategic Planning, 1617 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 17, Lakewood, CO 80401. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The form below can be used to submit your comments to the responsible project official.
National Forests have the option to post comments for public viewing on this web site via a public reading room. Active reading rooms allow the public to read or download your letter, including your contact information. If this project has an active reading room, a link labeled “Public Comment Reading Room” will appear on the main project page. The agency may withhold letters containing proprietary information, sensitive cultural or habitat locations, profanity, etc. All letters, including those not posted, will be considered and included as part of the project record.
Disclaimer: All contact information is optional; however, anonymous comments will not provide standing to object.
