ABSTRACT
Federal visibility regulations define an adverse impact on visibility to be visibility impairment that interferes with the management, protection, preservation, or enjoyment of the visitor's visual experience of the federal Class I area. The maximum level of impact should be determined on a case-by-case basis using the factors listed in the Environmental Protection Agency Visibility Rule and other factors such as: the physical characteristics of the wilderness, the management objectives of the wilderness and visitor expectations in the wilderness. The Flat Tops Wilderness is located within the White River and Routt National Forests in northwest Colorado. Winter use of the wilderness is almost nonexistent. The severe topographical changes at much of the wilderness boundary discourage most snowshoes and cross country skiers. The importance of clean air and viewing the scenery to Colorado wilderness users has been documented by a number of studies. Visibility in the Flat Tops wilderness, as determined by managers and users, is presently considered to be unimpaired.
