The Mountaintop Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest is initiating the preparation of an environmental assessment to consider and disclose the anticipated environmental effects of the Big Bear Mountain Resort Master Development Plan projects.
Big Bear Mountain Resort has requested approval from the forest to complete projects from its
accepted 2020 Master Development Plan. The resort operates on the forest under the existing Big Bear and Snow Summit special use permit.
The proposed projects are located in three areas: within the existing special use permit area; within the
proposed Big Bear Connect special use permit expansion area between Bear Mountain and Snow Summit
(forest land outside the existing special use permit boundary), and; on private land owned by the
resort.The proposed projects within the existing permit area include: implementing miscellaneous grading
and tree clearing on existing ski trails at Bear Mountain and Snow Summit; grading at the top
and bottom terminals of Chair 7 at Snow Summit; constructing a new beginner pod (Planned Lift A)
and the Ripcord extension connector between the existing Ripcord and Amusement Park ski
trails; installing a snowmaking pond near the top of Snow Summit; grading of a new summer mountain road on Bear Mountain; and constructing a ski bridge at the junction of proposed lifts C and D
to make the mountain road network at Bear Mountain sufficient to accommodate all operations
and maintenance needs.
The projects related to the proposed Big Bear Connect expansion area between Bear Mountain
and Snow Summit include: expanding and connecting the Bear Mountain and Snow Summit permitted
boundaries with an approximately 300-acre special use permit boundary expansion; installing two new lifts within the proposed Big Bear Connect special use permit expansion area; constructing approximately 60 acres of ski trails within and adjacent to the Big Bear Connect special use permit expansion area; trenching and installing snowmaking lines on proposed ski trails within the proposed Big Bear Connect area and connecting to existing lines at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.
The projects crossing private land owned by the resort and public lands within the existing special use permit area and proposed expanded speical use permit area involves installing summer activities, including 12 new mountain biking trails, a zipline system, and a mountain coaster.
Projects on federal land would incorporate developed recreation in compliance with the exisiting forest management plan.
Projects on private land owned by the resort would be subject to California Environmental
Quality Act review and are anticipated to be addressed in a separate analysis process.
Due to the limited extent of the proposed projects overlapping private lands, a joint National
Environmental Policy Act National Environmental Policy Act/California Environmental
Quality Act process is not appropriate for review; however, forthcoming California Environmental
Quality Act documentation may utilize and tier to the National Environmental Policy Act analyses.
The proposal is consistent with the resort’s current master development plan and passed the screening criteria for consideration to use forest lands. Visit the project website at
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63391 for additional project details, including maps.
The forest is requesting public comments on any component of this project. The purpose of this
scoping period is to provide interested parties with an opportunity for early and meaningful
participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process and to learn more about the project. Questions and comments regarding this proposal are an integral part of the environmental analysis process. Respondents should include: name, address, telephone number and organization represented, if any. Reference the Big Bear Mountain Resort Master Development Plan Projects and specify facts, concerns or issues and the reasons why they should be considered.
Written comments can be submitted via mail, electronically, or in person (Monday through
Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays) to: Danelle D. Harrison, Forest Supervisor C/O
Freddie Duncan, District Ranger, Mountaintop Ranger District, P.O. Box 290, Fawnskin, CA
92333. Electronic comments including attachments can be submitted on the project website at
https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=63391 or via email to
matthew.loscalzo@usda.gov.
Comments on the proposed project will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the
publication of a legal notice in the San Bernardino Sun. Only those who submit timely and specific
written comments will have the eligibility to file an objection under CFR 36 § 218.8. For
objection eligibility, each individual or representative from each entity submitting timely and
specific comments must either sign the comment or verify identity upon request. Individuals and
organizations wishing to be eligible to object must meet the information requirements in CFR 36
§ 218.25(a)(3). Names and contact information submitted with comments will become part of the
public record and may be released under the Freedom of Information Act. Electronic formats
accepted include email, PDF, word documents, spreadsheets and most images.
To obtain additional information about the Big Bear Mountain Resort Master Development Plan
Projects, contact Project Manager Matt Loscalzo by email at matthew.loscalzo@usda.gov or
Janelle Walker, Region 5 Mountain Resorts Program Manager at janelle.walker@usda.gov