The EIR/EIS for the Base to Base Gondola has now been published. The EIR/EIS can be reviewed by clicking on the following link.
Here is a quick EIR/EIS synopsis:
There were four routes for the Base to Base reviewed in the document. Alternative 1 was the original route that crossed the Wilderness area. However in the EIR/EIS additional routes were investigated with the purpose of skirting the Granite Chief Wilderness Area.
After the review of all the alternatives (again detailed in the EIR/EIS) it was concluded that Alternative 4 would be the best alternative.
ES.6.3 Conclusion. While Alternative 3 has less of an effect than Alternative 4 in some areas, such as disturbance of aquatic habitats, Alternative 4 results in less of an effect in multiple areas such as recreation, noise, total ground disturbance, tree removal, and SNYLF upland habitat.
“Therefore, overall, Alternative 4 is determined to have less of an adverse environmental effect compared to Alternative 3, and is considered to be the environmentally superior alternative”.
As detailed in the photo below Alternative 4 misses the Wilderness area completely.
One casualty of Alternative 4 is that the base of Red Dog and the Base to Base Gondola Terminal are in conflict with each other as noted in the image below. That will require a relocation of the Red Dog lift and possibly will require a replacement of the Red Dog lift. As noted in the EIR/EIS:
The Squaw Valley base terminal would be located in a slightly different location than the other alternatives, on or adjacent to the existing Funitel terminal (see Exhibit 2-17). The alignment of the existing Red Dog lift terminal may need to be altered to accommodate the Squaw Valley base terminal.
Formal comments by the public due no later than June 11th
Formal comments on the Draft EIR/EIS may be formally submitted to the Planning Commission either orally or in writing at its May 24th public hearing at the North Tahoe Event Center, and written comments may be submitted to
Placer County Environmental Coordination Services Division (cdraecs@placer.ca.gov)
or
Shirlee Herrington,Environmental Coordination Services,
3091 County Center Drive, Suite 190,
Auburn, CA 95603)
at any time during the 45 day public comment period, which begins on April 27 and ends June 11th at 5:00p.m.
