Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Releases Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Atoma Area Expansion Draft Record Of Decision

The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest has released the Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe Atoma Area Expansion draft Record of Decision (ROD) and final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 45-day formal objection period. Objections will be accepted only from people who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated comment periods.

The selected Alternative 3 amends Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe’s existing special use permit by approximately 112 acres to incorporate a portion of the Atoma area located on the north side of Nevada State Route 431 (Mount Rose Highway). This alternative allows the ski resort to build two chairlifts, 11 new ski trails, and restroom in the Atoma area; a skier bridge across the highway to connect the main ski area to the new terrain; a water pipeline to provide new snowmaking coverage; and a five million gallon water tank to support snowmaking.

“The Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe’s Atoma Area Expansion Project aligns with the direction of the Forest’s land and resource management plan to provide diverse recreational opportunities for this area,” said Forest Supervisor Bill Dunkelberger. “I chose Alternative 3, because it aligns the two chair lift system and skier bridge reducing potential safety risks to motorists on the highway and skiers on the lift over the highway.”

A Forest Plan Amendment is also a part of Alternative 3. It will restrict any future development of commercial uses on approximately 3,446 acres of NFS lands in the area known as Galena Land Exchange with the exception of the 112-acre Atoma and 168-acre Chutes areas.

Additionally, Alternative 3 improves the quality of the ski area’s winter sports offerings on NFS lands and enhances the recreation experience for skiers, while minimizing environmental and human impacts. This alternative also addresses impacts to white bark pine, a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act, by reducing the foot print of the water storage tank, and avoids impacts to wetlands and perennial streams by focusing trails in the Atoma area on existing road alignments and in natural openings.

“Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is excited for the opportunity to provide this new experience for all of our guests,” said Mike Pierce, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe Marketing Director.

Objections will be accepted for 45 days following publication of the legal notice in the Reno Gazette-Journal. The date of this legal notice is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted comments, unless based on new information arising after designated opportunities to comment. The draft ROD and final EIS for this project are available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=41487.

Objections must be submitted to Reviewing Officer, Intermountain Region U.S. Forest Service, 324 25th Street, Ogden UT, 84401, or hand-delivered during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Facsimiles can be sent to (801) 625-5277.

Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as an email message, pdf, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to: objections-intermtn-regional-office@fs.fed.us. Please put “Mt. Rose Atoma” into the subject line.

For more information on this project please contact Marnie Bonesteel, Team Leader, at (775) 352-1240 or mbonesteel@fs.fed.us.