Forest Service Chief Tidwell makes first move to review Snodgrass appeal

“Wait and see…again”

The U.S. Forest Service has given Crested Butte Mountain Resort at least a glimmer of hope over the Snodgrass issue. The office of Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell requested the Snodgrass appeal record on Tuesday, May 25. This sets up a potential mid-June date for Tidwell to decide whether or not he will actually review the appeal.

Associate Deputy Chief for National Forest Systems Gloria Manning officially requested the appeal record on Tuesday for the Chief’s office. There is a five-day window to get the record to the Washington office. After it is received, Tidwell has 15 more days to decide whether or not to conduct a discretionary review of the appeal.
The process began last November when Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond rejected CBMR’s request to place lifts on Snodgrass. That decision was appealed to California Forester Jim Peña. He upheld Richmond’s decision. Now it is up to Tidwell to decide whether or not to continue the review process.
“It’s positive that he at least requested the record,” stated CBMR Vice President of Resort Planning and Development Michael Kraatz. ”Now it’s wait and see…again.”