New comment period opens for environmental documents for proposed Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows Gondola

Published on September 02, 2016

After receiving written and oral comments on the Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows Base-to-Base Gondola project, Placer County and the U.S. Forest Service have decided to prepare a single joint environmental document. Initially, both the county and the Forest Service planned to prepare separate environmental documents. However, after public input, the two agencies decided to issue one environmental document meeting both state and federal environmental impact report and environmental impact statement requirements.

Due to this change, and in order to comply with California Environmental Quality Act requirements, Placer County has released a revised notice of preparation triggering a new 30-day comment period. Comments submitted during the first NOP comment period will remain part of the record, as will comments received during the first Forest Service notice of intent comment period. The county and the Forest Service continue to seek project input.

The project proposal remains the same. The only change is the merging of the two environmental documents. The project proposes building an eight-person gondola connecting the two ski resorts during winter operations. The project would include base terminals at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski areas, two mid-stations and new avalanche control devices on the Alpine Meadows portion of the project.

A draft EIR/EIS is expected to be available for review next year. A second comment period will be initiated upon release of that draft.

A copy of the notice of preparation is available for review at the Tahoe City Library, Truckee Library, Placer County Community Development Resource Agency in Auburn, Placer County administrative offices in Tahoe City.