Forest Service extends public comment period on possible Lutsen Ski Hill expansion

On October 21, the Forest Service announced a 45-day extension to the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) analyzing the proposal to expand Lutsen Mountains Ski Area, Lusten, MN. This announcement extends the original 45-day comment period from October 26 to December 9, 2021.

The Lutsen Mountains Ski Area DEIS addresses potential impacts of a proposed ski area expansion onto 495-acres of National Forest System lands and describes alternatives to implement this proposal.

This public comment period extension provides additional time for interested parties to ask questions about the complex project and submit comments.

Along with this extension, the Forest Service will host a second open house on November 16 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CT. The meeting will be held on Zoom; a phone line is also available for participants to join in listen-only mode.

During the open house, you can expect: o An overview of the project. o A review of questions from the October 5, 2021, open house. o A question and-answer session with Forest Service subject matter experts.

How to join: The Zoom link and call-in information is available under the public meeting tab on the Lutsen DEIS StoryMap.

A recording of the previous open house held on October 5, 2021 is available on the project website and via the project StoryMap under the public meeting tab.

How to comment: Comments on the Lutsen Mountains expansion DEIS and supporting documents must be submitted in writing, electronically, or by U.S. mail by December 9, 2021.

When you submit a comment, please include your name, address, and the title of the project: Lutsen Mountains Expansion DEIS. Comments received (including names and addresses) will become part of the project record and are public information.

Written Comments: Please direct to Michael Jimenez, Project Leader: Lutsen DEIS Project, Superior National Forest, 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808.

Electronic Comments: Email comments to comments eastern-superior@ usda.gov. Please include “Lutsen Mountains Ski Area Expansion Project” in the subject line.

For further information about this project or questions about commenting, please contact Michael Jimenez, project coordinator, at Michael.Jimenez@ usda.gov.