# Categorical Exclusion for Certain Ski Area Permit Actions
**AGENCY:**
Forest Service, USDA.
**ACTION:**
Notice of availability; reissuance of interim directive.
**SUMMARY:**
The Forest Service is reissuing an interim directive to guide its employees in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act when issuance of a ski area permit is a purely ministerial action and no changes are proposed in permitted activities or facilities. The interim directive implements a provision of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, which states that reissuance of a ski area permit for activities similar in nature and amount to the activities authorized under the previous permit shall not constitute a major Federal action. This interim directive, numbered ID 1909.15-2000-1, reissues without change the interim direction previously issued to Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Environmental Policy and Procedures Handbook, in ID 1909.15-98-1, which was published in the *Federal Register* on September 9, 1998, and was issued effective September 24, 1998. The proposed interim directive was previously published for notice and comment in the *Federal Register* on October 27, 1997 (62 FR 55571).
**DATES:**
Interim directive (ID) 1909.15-2000-1 is effective March 24, 2000, and expires September 24, 2001, unless the direction in the ID is incorporated in an amendment to Forest Service Handbook 1909.15 before the expiration date.
**ADDRESSES:**
Copies of interim directive 1909.15-2000-1 are available electronically from the Forest Service via the World Wide Web/Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/1909.15/id_1909.15_2000_1.txt or by contacting the Forest Service, USDA, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Management Staff (Mail Stop 1125), P. O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090 (telephone 202-205-1706).
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Ken Karkula, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Management Staff (202-205-1426).
Dated: March 16, 2000.
Paul Brouha,
Acting Deputy Chief for National Forest System.