Residents urge stronger county response to Grand Targhee expansion; public asks for extended NEPA review

Driggs-area residents urged the Teton County Board of County Commissioners on June 9 to press the U.S. Forest Service for clearer analysis and an extended public comment period on the Grand Targhee Resort master development plan environmental review. Several speakers at the meeting’s open-mic portion and public comment period said the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) contains omissions and would have significant local impacts.

The request focused on technical gaps in the DEIS and on getting the county’s formal response strengthened before the Forest Service finalizes its environmental impact statement. “I suggest that the county inquire and demand of the forest service clarity in regard to the rules under which we’re operating,” Jeff White told commissioners, adding that the documents are “challenging at best to get a hold of as well as understand, interpret, and mark up and effectively comment.”

Why it matters: County speakers argued the DEIS affects drinking water, erosion, wildlife habitat and local traffic patterns. They said limited time for public review and confusing or inconsistent analytical rules in the DEIS hamper meaningful local input. How the county frames those concerns in its response may affect later permitting decisions and any conditions attached to Forest Service approvals.

Residents and local advocates pointed to specific issues they want the county to raise. Howie Garber said the county should oppose expanded special-use authorizations in sensitive drainages and asked the county to push for more analysis of snowmaking water use and erosion risks. “The letter states that you endorse a modified alternative 3 with no SUP expansion, no mountaintop restaurant,” Garber told the board, calling that “the best decision to protect wildlife use sheds and most importantly water.”

Anne Callison, another local commenter, urged the commissioners to use county staff and local experts to compile a more detailed, evidence-based response for legislators and the Forest Service. “You have somebody on staff, Rob Marin, who has been with this process since the beginning,” she said, suggesting the county produce a longer, more technical letter than the city of Driggs’ draft.

Commissioners permitted public comment but did not adopt a formal position at the June 9 meeting. They told speakers they would use the draft letter on the agenda as a starting point for discussion at a later session. Public works director Daryl Johnson and county staff later noted that the draft letter in the commissioners’ packet was a preliminary draft and that commissioners were still considering whether to adopt it, amend it, or seek additional legal and technical review.

What residents asked the county to do
- Ask the Forest Service to extend the public comment period so residents and the county can review and produce detailed technical comments. (Several speakers requested an extension.)
- Press for clearer, consistent identification of the set of rules and assumptions used in scoping versus the DEIS analysis.
- Request additional analysis in a supplemental EIS for localized impacts the DEIS reportedly omitted, including detailed water-use estimates for proposed snowmaking acreage and localized air-quality monitoring in Driggs.
- Oppose expansion of facilities in sensitive drainages (public commenters singled out Ricks Basin and Dry Creek) and ask the Forest Service to consider a carrying-capacity limit for skier days.

Dissent and next steps: Some commissioners expressed support for taking a vigorous technical approach but did not adopt a formal county position on June 9. Commissioners said staff would continue refining a response letter and could request outside technical review; the county will also have opportunities to coordinate with state or federal elected officials. Meanwhile, multiple residents said they plan to continue submitting written comments to the Forest Service and to press county staff and elected officials for specific technical and legal questions to add to the county’s record.

Speakers and sources: Jeff White (resident), Howie Garber (resident), Anne Callison (resident), Molly Nash (executive director, Teton Valley Community Recycling), Daryl Johnson (Teton County Public Works Director), Commissioner Powers (Teton County Board of County Commissioners).