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Show SO a * frm Wasatch. Canyon Reporter Chris Allaire Remembered sees by Creighton Hart inititnde ‘of folks throughout the entire ski industry. I first remember meeting The spirit of Chris Alaire will always remain as a Chris presence in Big Cottonwood canyon, his place of work for nearly 2 decades. He left this earthly physical plane after an arduous bout with colon cancer. He fought this © _ battle for over a year but lost on Monday July 8th. Heis to be sorely missed by a Alaire at the Susans fresh, to howling winds and bitter below-zero temps to blustery spring days. He would be there making sure then Brighton Touring Center. back in the days when he would be out grooming the entire track using only a simple snowmobile and a _track-setter. Some days the weather was __ beyond description; from two feet of that that job, and at least 100 track and bret Chris into their flock have voiced their sorrow regarding the empty chair that is now in his office. His organizational others, were taken care of to skills and ’ few days too early. He is survived by his loving wife Leslie and son Kyle. For those that need to come and honor our fellow track master please come to communication -among the locals will surely perfection. His addition to the Nordic track community was termendous. He will be missed by all. The folks at Solitude who later bought the Nordic - a service CreekSide be missed, as will his quick Chuckle at the oddest of times. All this and much more can be said about this man who left the ski hill a to be held Restaurant at. on stele August 23 between 3-6 pm. PUBLIC COMMENT ALLOWED ON BRIGHTON EXPANSION PLANS Ed Note-The following text runs verbatim from the notes that the Forest Service sends to concerned citizens...and us. Dear Friend: Since February 1996, the Forest Service has been conducting environmental analysis on Brighton Ski Resort’s (Brighton) proposal to update their Master Development Plan (MDP) Through our analysis and your comments, our analysis team has identified possible significant issues that may affect the human environment. Therefore, in Environmental compliance Policy Act with the (NEPA), National we have | decided to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This notice is to inform you of the opening of a new 30-day public comment period for the EIS, as required by NEPA. This public comment period does not replace the initial public comment period. All comments received to date will be included in the EIS. We are seeking new issues, comments and suggestions. During the analysis of Brighton’s MDP, our interdisciplinary (ID) team, which consists of an environmental analyst, hydrologist, ecologist, fisheries biologist, wildlife biologist, archeologist, landscape architect, and a snow ranger, concluded that the following projects met the criteria for categorical exclusion from documentation in the EIS. The Forest Supervisor signed a Decision Memo, - dated June 28, 1996, which approved the following projects. 1.Great Western Corridor - Connect the Scout ~ run the Base of the Great Western lift by widening -a corridor in selected areas by 20-30 feet. This - would require removing approximately 20 to 30, 612 inch diameter fir trees and 20 to 30, 4-8 inch diameter aspen trees. 2. Majestic and Millicent Access trails ~ Widen both trails at intersection by 10 to 20 feet which would require removing some rocks, stumps and approximately 30, 4 to 10 inch spruce trees Renovate Alpine Rose Lodge - Remodel the kitchen and serving areas, enclose the existing deck and bring building up to Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 (ADA) code. | Replace the Millicent Chairlift with a highspeed .detachable Quad - Replace the existing 21- year-old Millicent fixed-grip double chairlift to a high-speed Quad. The lift will follow the existing 1. Traffic patterns and safety in Big Cottonwood Canyon? 2. The parking situation in Big eee Canyon? 3. Vegetation and wildlife slab threatened and endangered species? 4. Skier capacity - SAOT (Skiers-At-One- alignment and will utilize the current towers. The upper and lower terminals will be replaced and grading will be needed around the top terminal. 5. Remove Evergreen Chairlift - Remove the existing Evergreen chairlift. Converting the Millicent chairlift to a high-speed Quad will provide the uphill capacity needed in the area. Time)? 5. Soil erosion and water quaiyzquaniy? 6. Visual quality? 7. The quality of reereational experiences in | Big Cottonwood Canyon? 8. Wetland and Riparian Ecosystems? 9. Socioeconomic? 10. AirQuality? 6. Construct a new Top Patrol Building Incorporate a new top ski patrol station into the new top terminal building (approximately 250 square feet) of the replaced Mililcent Quad, similar in design to the existing patrol stations incorporated into the top terminals of the Great Western and Crest high-speed Quads. The existing patrol building, constructed in the early 1970’s, will be removed. The remainder of the projects listed in the April 12 scoping document are unchanged and will be analyzed in the EIS. No new proposals have been added to Brighton’s MDP. Descriptions of the proposed actions are included in the scoping document which is available from the Salt Lake Ranger District. PROJECT TIMETABLE AND KEY DATES: ( 30-Day public comment period-opens July 5, 1996; closes August 9, 1996. ( A draft EIS (DEIS) is expected to be filed in May 1997 and the final EIS filed in September foo). 7 ( The comment period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency’s notice of availability appears in the Federal Register. . It is important that those interested in this proposed action participate at this time. To be most helpful, your comments should be as specific as possible. Written comments provide us a record of your concerns. Your comments will be used to determine significant issues and to develop potential alternatives to be addressed in the EIS. PRELIMINARY ISSUES ~ The ID team has conducted an initial review of the proposal, including an analysis of your comments and concerns. The team has identified the following issues.What would be the effects of the proposal on: ‘Page 6 Additional issues, identified from public ; comments, may also be addressed in ‘the pe ALTERNATIVES NEPA regulations require a reasonable range Sof | alternatives. “This reasonable range must include the proposed action and a no action alternative. Other alternatives may : be identified as a result of the issues raised during the public comment period. For Brighton’ s MDP: ( The proposed action alternative would permit the projects identified in April 12, 1996 scoping document. ( The no action alternative won Show continued use as currently permitted with no new Improvements. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The Forest Supervisor of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest will be the responsible official and must decide if the proposals included in Brighton’s MDP meet the goals and direction identified in the Forest Plan. The Forest Supervisor will be responsible for selecting a preferred Alternative. FOR MORE INFORMATION | If you have questions or need additional information, contact: Steve Scheid, Environmental Analyst at (801) 943-9483 Mail your written comments to: -Michael Sieg, District Ranger Salt Lake Ranger District 6944 South 3000 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84121 he Speake |