The White River National Forest (WRNF) welcomes your comments on the proposal to initiate an environmental assessment (EA) process for the Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) 2026 Improvement Projects. The USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) will complete an environmental assessment (EA) that will be used to determine whether to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) or a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). Instructions for submitting comments are described on the last page of this document. Additional information is available on the project website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/projects/334175.
Specifically, the proposed action is needed to:
- Enhance snowmaking capabilities and expand coverage to allow for early-season terrain opening and accommodate early-season demand for skiing and riding;
- Effectively utilize A-Basin’s snowmaking system to support a high-quality skier and rider experience through improved skier circulation and on-mountain connectivity;
- Increase staff safety during avalanche mitigation through the installation of Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS); and
- Increase parking capacity, provide pedestrian access over US 6, improve safety, and facilitate an easier arrival experience for guests.
