Teton County commissioners on March 21 discussed how the county should engage as a cooperating agency on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Grand Targhee Resort. Chris Colligan, public works project manager, identified potential county concerns including fire and EMS, impacts to Ski Hill Road, housing and environmental effects. Colligan told the board these areas have a clear nexus to county public-works and emergency-services considerations.

Commissioners debated the depth of review they should pursue. Commissioner Carlman encouraged representation for nearby residents and asked whether third-party assistance would help. Commissioner Probst recommended a “both-and” approach: pursue relationship-building with Forest Service staff while also hiring an outside NEPA expert to evaluate procedural compliance and socioeconomic and financial impacts. Commissioner Probst said the Forest Service’s internal changes mean the NEPA process may not follow prior patterns and that an expert could help the county identify gaps and support requests for mitigation related to social and infrastructure impacts.

Commissioner MacKer suggested first contacting the Wyoming County Commissioners Association (WCCA) and the National Association of Counties for available NEPA resources; others agreed that the county should take a stepwise approach. Several commissioners asked staff to return with additional information and recommended the board consider requesting an extension of the DEIS comment period if needed to obtain subject-matter expertise.

The board also raised a record-clarification issue. District Supervisor Pence (Caribou-Targhee) had circulated a pre-decisional document that included a stakeholder-position bullet stating that "Teton County, Wyoming is supportive of the project." Commissioners said they had not taken a formal position supporting any specific alternative in the DEIS and asked staff to send a brief, non-confrontational note to the Forest Service correcting that characterization and clarifying that the county will review the DEIS and comment where appropriate. The board asked staff to return with preliminary research and recommended next steps at a follow-up meeting in mid-April (suggested April 14).