United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Carson Ranger District 1536 S. Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701 (775) 882-2766 Fax (775) 884-8199 File Code: 1950 Date: September 12, 2017 Dear Interested Citizen: The Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is initiating the environmental analysis process for the proposed Arrowcreek School Campus. The Arrowcreek School Campus Project would convey approximately 60 acres of Federal land in accordance with the Educational Land Grant Act (ELGA) to the Washoe County School District (WCSD) to support the development of a school campus. The Project Area is located in southwest Reno, Washoe County at the intersection of Thomas Creek Road and Arrowcreek Parkway. Specifically, the project area is located at T. 18 N., R. 19 E., Sec. 24 S ½ SE ¼, excepting that portion conveyed by U.S. Patent No. 27-96-0035. The proposed action is attached to this letter or can be viewed on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52446. The proposed action is currently available for a 30-day public scoping period. With this scoping notice we would like to invite your comments regarding issues, opportunities, concerns, and suggestions for the proposed project. This project is subject to comment pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. Only those who submit timely project-specific written comments during a public comment period, including this scoping period, are eligible to file an objection. Individuals or representatives of an entity submitting comments must sign the comments or verify identity upon request. HOW TO PARTICIPATE Please submit your comments on the project website, at https://cara.ecosystemmanagement.org/public/commentinput?project=52446. If your computer is not compatible with the website, try using a different web browser, or you can email comment to David Drake at ddrake@fs.fed.us. While public participation in this analysis is welcome at any time, comments received by October 20 th will be especially useful in the preparation of the environmental assessment. Please contact David Drake, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431, 775-352-1241, ddrake@fs.fed.us for more information about the project or how to provide comments. Sincerely, IRENE DAVIDSON District Ranger Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
Proposed Action Under the Proposed Action, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (Forest) would sell the parcel to Washoe County School District (WCSD) under the authority of the Educational Land Grant Act (ELGA). The ELGA Project Area is located in southwest Reno, Washoe County, Nevada at the intersection of Thomas Creek Drive and Arrowcreek Parkway (See Figures 1-3 of this document). The parcel is approximately 60 acres, and is of sufficient size for development as a school campus. The WCSD has filed a Preliminary Plan of Development for a school campus that would benefit the public interest and meet the requirements established in ELGA (114 Stat. 368; 16 U.S.C. 479a). The parcel is an isolated parcel of the National Forest surrounded on all four sides by non-federal land. The intended use of the site is for a new Arrowcreek school campus. WCSD plans to construct the campus in three phases over a period of 20 years. All construction would occur in compliance with applicable State and local permits. The full 60-acre site is proposed to be developed in three primary phases over the course of approximately 20 years. Each phase will include a major new school facility construction with associated utility and site improvements. It is the intention of WCSD to apply for the patent on this property with construction beginning in 2019. The initial phase will include access and utility improvements, which will facilitate development associated with Phases 2 & 3. Phase 1 of the campus development would be construction of a middle school and sports fields, and construction is anticipated to begin in 2019 and be operational in 2020. The middle school design would be adapted from the existing WCSD Depoali Middle School. The elements of the middle school generally remain the same, but the footprint for the school has been modified for the Arrowcreek site. The 60-acre campus will be fenced along the parcel boundary and mowed fire-breaks maintained along the fence line. Phase 2 of the campus development is planned to include a pre-kindergarten center of approximately 20,000-50,000 square feet on a single level with construction tentatively scheduled to begin in 2024. The parking area for Phase 2 will be built in advance and closely follow the construction of the Phase 1 middle school. Phase 3 of development includes a regional career/technical school, possibly on two levels, totaling roughly 70,000-80,000 square feet with construction planned to begin in 2034. Phases 2 and 3 of the development may vary by a few years depending on residential growth in Washoe County and the overall demand for educational facilities. Page 1 of 2
Purpose and Need The WCSD has identified a need for greater capacity for meeting the educational needs of Washoe County students, and the County voters approved a bond issue to fund school construction to meet this need. The ELGA requires that the Forest consider selling land for educational needs at a nominal cost, when land is needed for educational purposes, but little private land is available in the area at a reasonable cost. The Forest is required to respond to the application for conveyance filed by WCSD, as required by the ELGA (Section 2(d)(2)). The Forest needs to consider the WCSD application because it meets the specific criteria required under ELGA, and is consistent with management guidelines in the Toiyabe Land and Resource Management Plan (1986 LRMP). The EGLA (114 Stat. 368; 16 U.S.C. 479a) authorizes the Forest to convey up to 80 acres of National Forest System lands to public school districts for educational purposes, upon application by the school district. The act requires: 1. A determination that the conveyance is in the public interest; 2. The land to be conveyed is not needed for other National Forest System purposes; 3. The land to be conveyed has been identified as available for disposal in the land and resource management plan; 4. The conveyance would serve public objectives that outweigh the objectives and values that would be served by maintaining the land in federal ownership; and 5. The total acreage to be conveyed does not exceed the amount reasonably necessary for the proposed use. For purposes of this act, an educational use of conveyed land is a use that directly relates to the instruction of students. The educational aspects of this use must be more valuable than its non-educational aspects. Page 2 of 2
Figure 1: Vicinity Map Arrowcreek School Campus Humbolt Winnemucca Elko Elko Washoe 80 Pershing Battle Mountain 93 Lovelock Arrowcreek School Campus Lander Reno Fallon Storey Churchill ^_ 95A Austin 50 Carson City Gardnerville Yerington Douglas Eureka Eureka White Pine Ely Lyon Hawthorne Mineral 6 Esmerelda Tonopah Goldfield Nye Lincoln 95 93 15 Clark Las Vegas Legend Towns Interstate 8/28/2017 Highway State Route Counties 0 20 40 60 80 Miles Map data compiled from multiple sources. The USFS makes no guarantee about the accuracy or completeness of the data. Ü Path: R:\projects\Washoe County Schools\16_306_2 Arrow Creek\MXD\Figure_1_Location.mxd Date: 8/28/2017
Figure 2. Project Location Map Arrowcreek School Campus 11 Arrowcreek School Campus 12 07 08 14 13 18 17 23 24 19 20 26 25 30 29 Project Area Section Township 35 Land Status Forest Service Private Ü Map data compiled from multiple sources. The USFS makes no guarantee about the accuracy or completeness of the data. 36 31 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Miles 32
Figure 3. Washoe County School District Three Phase Proposed Development Arrowcreek School Campus T. 18 N., R. 19 E., Sec. 24 Phase One: 2018-2020, Estimated Development Costs: $58,825,000 Phase Two: 2020-2029, Estimated Development Costs: $29,750,000 Phase Three: 2029-2039, Estimated Development Costs: $35,500,000