I received this email from Mount Snow today...
Mount Snow Resort (Mount Snow) is proposing to obtain water from Somerset Reservoir for snowmaking. Of the 2,451 acres owned and operated by Mount Snow, approximately 894 acres are within the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). A Special Use Permit (SUP) from the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) administered by the GMNF authorizes Mount Snow to utilize these lands to support its resort. Mount Snow’s existing water withdrawal from its current water supply sources, Snow Lake, Carinthia Pond and Mirror Lake, are not in compliance with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Water Withdrawal for Snowmaking Rules. The proposed action will allow snowmaking coverage to be expanded to 99% of existing and proposed terrain, an increase of 106 acres over existing coverage. The proposed action will also allow Mount Snow to come into compliance with ANR Snowmaking Rules. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the GMNF will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to disclose the potential environmental effects of this proposed action. The proposal includes construction and operation of snowmaking pipelines, a pump house, and new power line construction to achieve multiple resource benefits as provided by direction in the 2006 Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan).
The NEPA process provides for public “scoping” of this proposed action to help identify important issues, define the intensity of the site-specific environmental analysis, and provide a basis for sound decision-making to implement the best management activities to meet desired resource conditions following Forest Plan direction. With this in mind, GMNF would like to invite your comments on the proposed Mount Snow Somerset Project to help identify any issues or concerns that may exist that would necessitate development of alternative actions or require mitigation measures to address any unresolved resource impacts. An open house will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow from 4:00-7:00 PM on August 30, 2007 where you may become more fully informed about this proposal by asking questions of the proponent, various agency, and private consultant personnel involved in this project.
Your may also provide comments orally or in writing (phone, facsimile, mail, or email) by September 17, 2007. Please make your comments as specific as possible as they relate to the proposed action, and include your name, address, and if possible, telephone number and email address. All comments should be sent to: Carol Knight, USDA Forest Service, 2538 Depot Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255 (mail); 802-362-1251 (facsimile); cknight@fs.fed.us (email); or call Carol directly at 802-362-2307 ext. 227 (Voice), or 802-747-6765 (TTY). Comments received in response to this invitation, including name and address of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project and will be available for public review. If you decide to comment, you will automatically be notified of the opportunity to submit additional comments during the 30-day notice and comment period for the draft EA, as well as the completed EA and decision document following completion of the environmental analysis process. If you do not have specific comments, but wish to continue receiving information about this project, or if you have any questions or need further information, please contact Carol Knight, Project Coordinator at the addresses and telephone number listed above.
Mount Snow Resort (Mount Snow) is proposing to obtain water from Somerset Reservoir for snowmaking. Of the 2,451 acres owned and operated by Mount Snow, approximately 894 acres are within the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF). A Special Use Permit (SUP) from the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) administered by the GMNF authorizes Mount Snow to utilize these lands to support its resort. Mount Snow’s existing water withdrawal from its current water supply sources, Snow Lake, Carinthia Pond and Mirror Lake, are not in compliance with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) Water Withdrawal for Snowmaking Rules. The proposed action will allow snowmaking coverage to be expanded to 99% of existing and proposed terrain, an increase of 106 acres over existing coverage. The proposed action will also allow Mount Snow to come into compliance with ANR Snowmaking Rules. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the GMNF will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to disclose the potential environmental effects of this proposed action. The proposal includes construction and operation of snowmaking pipelines, a pump house, and new power line construction to achieve multiple resource benefits as provided by direction in the 2006 Green Mountain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan).
The NEPA process provides for public “scoping” of this proposed action to help identify important issues, define the intensity of the site-specific environmental analysis, and provide a basis for sound decision-making to implement the best management activities to meet desired resource conditions following Forest Plan direction. With this in mind, GMNF would like to invite your comments on the proposed Mount Snow Somerset Project to help identify any issues or concerns that may exist that would necessitate development of alternative actions or require mitigation measures to address any unresolved resource impacts. An open house will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel at Mount Snow from 4:00-7:00 PM on August 30, 2007 where you may become more fully informed about this proposal by asking questions of the proponent, various agency, and private consultant personnel involved in this project.
Your may also provide comments orally or in writing (phone, facsimile, mail, or email) by September 17, 2007. Please make your comments as specific as possible as they relate to the proposed action, and include your name, address, and if possible, telephone number and email address. All comments should be sent to: Carol Knight, USDA Forest Service, 2538 Depot Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255 (mail); 802-362-1251 (facsimile); cknight@fs.fed.us (email); or call Carol directly at 802-362-2307 ext. 227 (Voice), or 802-747-6765 (TTY). Comments received in response to this invitation, including name and address of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project and will be available for public review. If you decide to comment, you will automatically be notified of the opportunity to submit additional comments during the 30-day notice and comment period for the draft EA, as well as the completed EA and decision document following completion of the environmental analysis process. If you do not have specific comments, but wish to continue receiving information about this project, or if you have any questions or need further information, please contact Carol Knight, Project Coordinator at the addresses and telephone number listed above.
