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Crested Butte Rallies for NEPA Print E-mail
Written by Peter Kray / SkiPressWorld.com   
Thursday, 19 November 2009 09:43
Mt. Crested Butte, Colo. (Ski Press)-The Ski Press news desk received this press release regarding Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s reaction the U.S. Forest Service’s denial of its proposed Snodgrass Mountain expansion:

“On Nov. 5, 2009, Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) received a letter from the U.S. Forest Service denying the resort the ability to enter into the public review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for its Snodgrass Mountain expansion proposal.

With its decision the Forest Service did not follow the procedures it follows at other ski areas, and handed down a final decision that directly impacts the economic stability of the East River Valley in Gunnison County without preparing objective formal studies and without asking for public comments. Since the letter became public, the resort has received an outpouring of support from the community urging CBMR to appeal.

Despite a statement in the Forest Service letter denying the opportunity for appeal, CBMR does believe this decision is appealable under Forest Service regulations and is initiating an action. “The statement is terribly flawed and is another example of the Forest Service’s high handedness and disregard for public due process rights,” added Tim Mueller, president of CBMR.

Support for CBMR and fair public process continues to swell locally, regionally and nationally. Approximately 300 community members attended a rally on Friday, Nov. 13, at local Crested Butte restaurant Maxwells, to show support for CBMR and to voice their concern with the recent Forest Service decision rejecting the NEPA process for Snodgrass. The vast majority of the community is shocked at the denial of due process. During the event, community members signed a petition to allow the NEPA process to proceed, and gathered information about further efforts to affect the reinstatement of the public?s right to comment and the public?s right to participate in this decision about public lands.

In an independent survey conducted last week by the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce, 83 percent of the 700 respondents voted in support of Snodgrass entering the NEPA process. In addition, protesters of the Forest Service decision have found a voice via an already over 600-participant-strong Facebook page called “Friends of Ski Lifts on Snodgrass,” created seven days ago.

Mt. Crested Butte Mayor William Buck, joined by community supporters, will stage a protest of the Forest Service decision to deny due process on Friday, Nov. 20 at 11:45 a.m. at the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Regional Office located in Golden, Colo. The Forest Service decision regarding Snodgrass will have a long-term economic impact on the Crested Butte community and the protest offers an outlet for voicing public opinion, which was denied with this action.

The proposed Snodgrass expansion will increase the amount of intermediate and advanced terrain at CBMR with 276 acres of skiing served by three lifts, a beginner carpet and a connector gondola from Crested Butte Mountain. Snodgrass Mountain is located adjacent to Crested Butte Mountain.

For more information about the Snodgrass Mountain proposed expansion visit http://www.snodgrassfacts.com.”

Image credit: skicb.com 
 
15 Votes

6 Comments

  1. AT Charlie makes this comment

    Sunday, 29 November 2009

    The above article is so one-sided it borders on satire. We deserve more than "one-phone call reporting". This is a incredibly important issue to ski towns and to report only one side of the argument is irresponsible. It's gonna take 5 posts to set the record straight. Here goes:

  2. AT Charlie makes this comment

    Sunday, 29 November 2009

    1) You say: "In its decision the Forest Service did not follow the procedures it follows at other ski areas"... "without preparing objective formal studies and without asking for public comments." Truth: This has been going on for 30 years. Denied or pulled off the table twice. This go round there were 3 different geology studies, numerous public gatherings to discuss, and the FS has stated throughout that the public needed to weigh in; and they did, with the FS receiving 500+ letters from 2004-2009. There was a public forum in which 150 people crowded the CB Center for the Arts. 40 folks spoke in favor of leaving Snodgrass alone, only one spoke in favor of lifts. There is an opposition group formed in 2004 called FriendsofSnodgrass.org, a petition of 1500 signatures of supporters of leaving Snodgrass wild and free. This "victim" image that CBMR portrays has got to be insulting to the FS at best.

  3. AT Charlie makes this comment

    Sunday, 29 November 2009

    CBMR has always known that this is the way the FS now handles these bigger projects on public land. Guess who said this quote in 2005, "So the USFS said "enough". We will accept no more plans into the public process that are Dead On Arrival. We will not waste time and resources on bad plans." Answer: John Norton, 1/13/05 in the Gunnison
    Times. (Norton was CBMR chief and then their consultant and leading spokesman for the pro-lift side). The FS process of Pre-Nepa was no surprise!

  4. AT Charlie makes this comment

    Sunday, 29 November 2009

    2) You say: "Since the letter became public, the resort has received an outpouring of support from the community urging CBMR to appeal." Truth: This is a campaign in CB run by the area Realtors. They posted a list of businesses in the paper that want lifts. This list is 70% Realtors and builders/developers. So it is obvious who this project would have benefited. Most know it is just real estate adventure vs. the need for more terrain.

    3) You say: "CBMR does believe this decision is appealable under Forest Service regulations and is initiating an action." Fact: The Muellers, owners of CBMR are presently suing the State of NH over the same issue at Mt. Sunapee. They want more, the State and its Gov. think they have enough. Check out Friendsofmtsunapee.org and Friendsofsnodgrass.org to educate yourself on the real issues.

  5. AT Charlie makes this comment

    Sunday, 29 November 2009

    4) You say " During the event, community members signed a petition to allow the NEPA process to proceed" Truth: They gave you a drink ticket if you signed their petition. If that doesn't beat all I don't know what does.

    5) You say: "An independent survey conducted last week by the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce, 83 percent of the 700 respondents voted in support of Snodgrass entering the NEPA". Truth: The chamber is not Independent, it's run by Richard Bond, a vocal proponent for lifts. This group is lobbying hard to reverse the decision. The poll was an online poll which allowed for multiple voting. The poll was selectivly sent out. To believe these numbers is akin to taking the Nat'l Enquirer news stories seriously. These online polls are simply video games that the public, unfortunately, can be led to believe.
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