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<br />l},;~SSi <br />.. -" '. Summary <br />The only previous NEPA.based analysis of the Aspen Highlands Ski Area is the 1994 Environmental <br />Assessment of improvements to existing facilities. The developments approved by the Forest SelVice are <br />recorded in the 1994 Decision Notice and they have not been affected by any changes to NEP A <br />regulations since they were approved. Specific decisions to be made by the Forest SelVice are presented <br />in Table 1. <br /> <br />Table I. Specific decisions to be made by tbe Forest Service <br />I) Whether to construct additional lifts proposed by the ASC (Steeplechase, Highlands Bowl, and Maroon Bowl lifts) <br /> and/or other lifts to access these areas. <br />2) Whether to develop the proposed new gladed and bowl terrain in the Boomerang, Deep Steeplechase. Temerity, <br /> Highland Bowl, Maroon Bowl, and Loge Bowl areas. <br />3) Whether to develop the proposed Steeplechase, Highland Bowl, and Loge Bowl catwalks, or alternative <br /> catwalks/maintenance roads in the Temerity area and from Loge Peak. to the upper terminal of the Maroon Bowl <br /> Lift. <br />4) Whether to construct a new Merry-Go-Round restaurant, ski patrol headquarters, and/or additional facilities. <br />S) Whether to expand the existing snowmaking capacity at Aspen Highlands. <br />6) Whether to authorize summer recreation activities and operation of associated facilities in the Merry-Go-Round or <br /> other areas. <br />7) How and when to implement any of the actions which are approved for development through the EIS process. <br />8) What mitigation measures should be applied for those elements of the Proposed Action or alternatives that are <br /> approved through the EIS process. <br /> <br />ScoPING AND IDENTIFICATION OF ISSUES AND CoNCERNS <br /> <br />NEPA requires that the public and agency personnel be involved from an early stage in decision making <br />on federal lands, An important part of this strategy is scoping, which the CEQ regulations describe as <br />the process for determining the "scope of the issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant <br />issues related to a proposed action" (40 CFR ~ 1501.7). In addition to revealing potentially significant <br />issues, this process can also identify alternatives to the Proposed Action that are consistent with but may <br />have less impact than the proposal. <br /> <br />The Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Aspen Highlands EIS was printed in the Federal Register on Tuesday, <br />May 30, 1995. Public scoping was formally initiated by mailing an informational letter and map to <br />interested individuals on the Forest SelVice's mailing list and by notifying the general public through <br />newspaper releases and media coverage. The Glenwood Post is the newspaper of record for this particular <br />NEP A process, and released information regarding the public scoping period on June 13, 1995. The <br />scoping notice was mailed on June IS, 1995 and designated a 45-day response period ending July 31, <br />1995. The actual ending date was three days later than the original deadline stated in the NOI as a result <br />of delays in mailing the scoping notice. Comments were to be directed to the Aspen Ranger District of <br />the WRNF. Verbal comments on the proposal were also recorded by Forest SelVice officials. Two public <br />meetings were held in Aspen, Colorado, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on July 20, <br />1995, to explain the NEP A process and the proposed development, to receive comments, and to answer <br />any questions. <br /> <br />A content analysis of the verbal and written comments was prepared. Eleven letters were received and <br />79 verbal responses were recorded by the Forest SelVice at the public meetings held on July 20, 1995. <br />The main issues of concern that were raised during scoping are summarized in Table 2. <br /> <br />Seclion J <br />Scoping and Jdenlificalion of Issues and Concenu <br /> <br />5 <br />