More alternatives developed for new Forest Service facilities
Plans for Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Jackson
by Bridger-Teton National Forest
February 10, 2009
(Jackson) – The Bridger-Teton National Forest has assembled an interdisciplinary team to work on creating alternatives to be analyzed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in determining how to relocate the administrative facilities in Jackson, Wyoming. The Forest initially had two alternatives for the conveyance of the administrative land located on North Cache Street. As a result of public comment, the Forest has added an additional two alternatives to be considered in the analysis.
Public scoping began in October, 2008 and a public meeting was held in East Jackson. Comments from that meeting resulted in two expanded alternatives that the Forest will carry forward in the NEPA process. A new Supervisor’s Office/District Office and a small warehouse are proposed on the existing administrative site. New housing is proposed for the Nelson Drive and Cottonwood administrative sites. The existing employee-owned housing is proposed to be relocated to the Nelson site under the first two alternatives. As a result of public comment, the two additional alternatives that will be considered focus on intensifying the development on the current administrative site by re-configuring the employee owned residences and adding housing. The result is less development on the other administrative locations. Other facilities such as a warehouses and the fire cache are proposed for the Cottonwood administrative site or the existing Jackson site.
The Forest is working this winter on identifying the specific space needs of the facilities, site locations, and the parcel proposed to be sold through the conveyance process. The exact configuration of the parcel to be sold will likely be determined by the market. The Forest, with the new alternatives, is considering options that range from conveying just over six acres up to the eleven acres identified last fall in the Proposed Action.
The 40-year-old facilities at the Jackson administrative site are costly to maintain, and do not meet some standard building codes such as accessibility. Congress gave the Forest Service authority for conveyance and the use of funds from these sales in the Forest Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005.
An Environmental Analysis is expected to be released for review in March, 2009 and a Decision Notice signed in June of 2009.
Contact Information:
Bridger-Teton National Forest
P.O. Box 1888
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 739-5500
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