Welcome
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider and disclose the anticipated environmental effects of implementing the Grand Targhee Resort (GTR) Master Development Plan (MDP) Projects, designed to improve the year-round recreational experience. The MDP was submitted to and accepted by the CTNF in 2019. While most of these projects would occur within the resort's existing Special Use Permit (SUP) area, there are two areas along the southeast and southwest borders of the SUP area (Mono Trees and South Bowl) where GTR is proposing a boundary adjustment.
The publication of the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for GTR in the Federal Register on August 26th, 2020 initiated a 45-day formal scoping period. Scoping comments were then reviewed and processed to identify the major themes and resource concerns. This information was used to develop an appropriate range of alternatives for the project, as well as issues and indicators for each resource, that will guide analysis in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will analyze the following alternatives: 1) the No Action Alternative; 2) a modified version of the Proposed Action described in the Scoping Notice, including projects located within the existing SUP area and proposed expansion projects in Mono Trees and South Bowl; 3) proposed projects located within the existing SUP area only; 4) proposed projects located within the existing SUP area and proposed South Bowl expansion projects; and 5) proposed projects located within the existing SUP area and proposed Mono Trees expansion projects. Alternatives must meet the Purpose and Need of the project while responding to issues identified during scoping. Project alternatives will be described in greater detail in the upcoming Draft EIS. The next milestone for this project will be the release of the Draft EIS, which is expected to be available in the spring of 2022. The public will have a minimum of 90 days after the Notice of Availability is published for the Draft EIS to provide comments on the analysis and findings.
Additional information about the project, including the description of the Proposed Action and the Purpose and Need from the Scoping Notice, is available in the Project Overview page of this website. Published project materials are available in the Project Library page. A summary of the EIS process required for this project is available in the NEPA Process page.
Project information can also be viewed via an online Story Map.
Note: this is not an official Forest Service website.
Public Involvement
The scoping period was open for public comment submittal between August 26, 2020 and October 12, 2020. Two web-based public scoping meetings were held on September 8, 2020 and September 10, 2020 to further inform the public of the projects identified in the Scoping Notice and to encourage public involvement. Virtual meetings were conducted rather than in-person meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Scoping comments were accepted through mail, fax, telephone, email, and the CTNF's project website. A record of comments is available on CTNF's project website in the Public Comment/Objection Reading Room.
The Draft EIS is expected to be available for public review in the spring of 2022. The public will have a minimum of 90 days after the Notice of Availability is published for the Draft EIS to provide comments on the analysis and findings. Although information has been released in the interim, it is best to hold formal comments until the opening of the Draft EIS comment period. This is the best way to ensure that commenters have standing to object, should it be determined appropriate later in the process.
Forest Service Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update
The Forest Service is taking the risks presented by Covid-19 seriously and is following U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health guidance as we continue to offer services to the public. Visitors to our National Forests and Grasslands are urged to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. There are three official, government-wide sources of up-to-date information about the coronavirus: Coronavirus.gov, CDC.gov/coronavirus, and USA.gov/coronavirus.
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