<i>View and download the land exchange study at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/projects.<;/i>


SUMMIT COUNTY — The Dillon Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service, has issued an environmental assessment for the proposed Snake River Land Exchange. Public comments on the EA are being accepted.

The purpose of this comment period is to provide an opportunity for the public to have early and meaningful participation on the proposed land exchange prior to a decision being made by the Forest Supervisor.

Based on the study, the Forest Supervisor is considering choosing Alternative 2, swapping 73.83 acres of National Forest System lands for the 42.8 acre Chihuahua town site.

Chihuahua LLC would acquire 21.06 acres located in Keystone, just east of the River Run Gondola. The Dercum Dash parcel has preliminary zoning approval for single-family homes.

The Town of Breckenridge would acquire two parcels: 36.49 acres known as the Claimjumper parcel, off Airport Road, and the 16.8-acre Cucumber Gulch parcel east of Ski Hill Road (County Road 3) and north of the new Breckenridge Ski Area Peak 7 base area.

Part of the Claimjumper land could be used for affordable housing, while the Cucumber Gulch parcel is a key buffer between private land development and prized wetlands and wildlife habitat.

Backed by local government, the Forest Service wants to acquire the Chihuahua town site to eliminate an inholding and protect historic values, along with mountain vistas, backcountry recreation, wetlands and wildlife habitat.

<b>Time for comment</b>
Acting Dillon District Ranger Scott Ludwig said, “The EA analyzes and discloses the environmental impacts of the proposed Snake River land exchange, as well as the public benefits associated with the proposed exchange.”

The EA can be viewed on the Forest Service’s website at www.fs.fed.us/r2/whiteriver/projects. To obtain copies of the EA orrequest further information, please contact Paul Semmer at: Dillon Ranger District, P.O. Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498; by phone at (970) 262-3448; or by email: psemmer@fs.fed.us.

Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted. Written comments must be submitted to: Scott Ludwig, Acting District Ranger, PO Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498, Fax: 970-468-7735. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.

Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an email message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to:
comments-rocky-mountain-white-river-eastzone@fs.fed.us or psemmer@fs.fed.us.