The Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Ranger District is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider and disclose the anticipated environmental effects of the Squaw Valley to Alpine Meadows Base-to-Base Gondola Project. In September 2015, the Tahoe National Forest accepted an application from Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC which proposes to install, operate, and maintain an aerial ropeway system connecting the Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski areas.
Implementation of the proposal would require an amendment to an existing Special Use Permit issued for the operation and maintenance of Alpine Meadows Ski Area. The proposal is consistent with Alpine Meadows’ current Master Development Plan and passed the screening criteria for consideration to use National Forest System lands and amend the existing permit consistent with Forest Service land use regulations.
Additional information about the project, including the Purpose and Need and a description of the Proposed Action, is available in the Project Overview.
In addition to analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Placer County will prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to analyze environmental impacts of the proposal pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Information regarding the Placer County CEQA process is available here:
http://placer.ca.gov/departments/communitydevelopment/envcoordsvcs/eir/squawvalleygondolaproject
The Forest Service and Placer County reviews will be documented in a joint EIS/EIR to fulfill the requirements of NEPA and CEQA.
Note: this is not an official Forest Service website.
Announcements
The US Forest Service and Placer County have prepared a joint Final EIS/EIR and Response to Comments (RTC). The US Forest Service has also prepared a Draft Record of Decision (ROD), which details the Forest Supervisor’s preliminary decision to approve the installation of the base-to-base gondola via the Alternative 4 alignment, as well as the amendment of the Alpine Meadows Ski Area Special Use Permit, consistent with Alternative 4.
The Draft ROD is subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Only those who submitted project-specific written comments during scoping or other designated comment periods are eligible to file an objection. Click here for more information on the objection process.
All project documents (Draft EIS/EIR, Final EIS/EIR, Draft ROD) are available in the project library.