Forest Service has 30 days to comment on Snodgrass appeal

CBMR confident Richmond decision will be overturned

The United States Forest Service has received and accepted the appeal document from Crested Butte Mountain Resort over the federal agency’s decision not allowing further consideration of ski lifts on Snodgrass Mountain. The 70-page document was accepted by the regional forester’s office in Lakewood on Friday, December 18. It asks that the November 5 decision to not allow further planning discussions about expanding lifts onto Snodgrass by Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond be overturned.

“We received the appeal on Friday so it will probably be the middle of January before [regional forester] Rick [Cables] issues a responsive letter to the appeal,” explained Forest Service spokesperson Janelle Smith of the Lakewood office. “After that, there will be the opportunity for dialogue with CBMR. They will have the chance to present oral arguments before Rick if they desire.”
Smith said the appeal is “quite lengthy” so it will take Cables some time to analyze the document. “We will look through the appeal and we want a clean slate when reading it,” Smith said. “I can’t say how we’ll handle it until the appeal is read by Rick.”
According to a CBMR press release, the proposed Snodgrass expansion is critical for the long-term viability of CBMR and the economic health of the East River Valley in Gunnison County. The proposed expansion would 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. Snodgrass Mountain has been designated for ski area expansion in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison Forest Plan (GMUG) since 1979, and has been included in CBMR’s special use permit since 1982.
“The decision the Forest Service made is fundamentally flawed,” said Tim Mueller, president of CBMR. “We are confident this decision will be set aside. Our appeal demonstrates that the Forest Service did not follow its own regulations, violated federal law and made a decision in a private process that is deeply offensive to the right of the public to participate in public lands decisions. Our appeal shows that every one of the ‘kitchen sink’ reasons listed in the Forest Service decision does not hold up.”
In its appeal CBMR has asked the Forest Service to initiate a public and objective NEPA process for Snodgrass.
According to Smith, Cables will take it all into consideration before commenting in January.
To view a copy of the appeal, go to www.crestedbuttenews.com.