Ski Area Expansion Proposal Does Not Meet Screening Criteria
Contact(s):
Lorraine Januzelli
Contact: Lorraine Januzelli, 801-473-8944
Ski Area Expansion Proposal Does Not Meet Screening Criteria
SALT LAKE CITY, June 15, 2010 – Forest officials announced today that they cannot accept Solitude Ski Resorts’ expansion proposal because it does not meet the screening criteria for such uses.
Ski area expansion proposals are evaluated under the Recreation Special Uses Screening Criteria as set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations.
“Solitude’s expansion proposal did not meet several of the screening criteria,” said Brian Ferebee, Supervisor of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. “That said, the Forest will continue to work with Solitude as an important provider of alpine skiing opportunities on National Forest System (NFS) lands within Big Cottonwood Canyon.”
Below is a summary of the screening criteria not met by the Solitude’s expansion proposal:
· The proposed expansion is inconsistent with the 2003 Forest Plan, which does not allow for expansion of current ski area permit boundaries into adjacent highly valued undeveloped areas
· The proposed use would be inconsistent with the purposes for which the land is managed. The 2003 Forest Plan specifically allocated the Silver Fork Area to provide for watershed protection and allow for undeveloped recreational opportunities. In fact, alpine ski development in this area was considered in the Forest Plan Environmental Impact Statement but not designated for the reasons stated above.
· The proposed expansion would not be in the public interest. The information and circumstances that supported the decisions made in the 2003 Forest Plan have not changed significantly. If anything, the importance of offering backcountry recreation opportunities and protecting community watersheds for a growing urban community has increased since 2003.
Solitude’s expansion proposal encompassed 182 acres with the construction of one new lift and the realignment of an existing one on NFS lands in the Silver Fork area – a frequently-used backcountry recreation destination.
The recreation special uses screening criteria is applied to proposals that facilitate the use of NFS lands for recreation opportunities by private entities. Examples include ski areas, organization camps, outfitter and guides, and recreation events.
“While the screening criteria remains constant,” stressed Ferebee, “every special use proposal is evaluated individually and on its own merit.”
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