Protesters Lift Up Voices for Snodgrass Last Friday, November 20th, Mt. Crested Butte Mayor William Buck led community members from Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte and Gunnison in a protest outside the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Golden.
With chants of “NEPA Now!”, “Don’t Screw Crested Butte”, and “Due Process Now!”, the group of about 50 expressed their discontent and frustration with the US Forest Service’s recent decision to deny Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) the opportunity for possible development of lift served skiing on Snodgrass.
Protesters gather outside the USFS Rocky Mountain Regional Office
The decision comes after five years of working with the Forest Service on the Snodgrass expansion proposal, and being lead on by the USFS that things were on track for approval to develop. Throughout the process, CBMR has received clear indications from the Forest Service that all requirements for entering the process have been met. Even recently, the Forest Service indicated that geological studies were sufficient and there was enough public support for the proposed expansion to begin an environmental analysis process under NEPA. This decision follows an earlier decision from the Forest Service in which they said an expansion is necessary to allow CBMR to successfully compete as a destination resort.
At the protest comments were made by various city officials and community leaders including Tim Mueller, Owner and President of Crested Butte Mountain Resort and recipient of the denial letter from USFS.
Tim Mueller of CBMR addresses the crowd
In a November 5th letter to CBMR, the USFS detailed their decision to keep CBMR from entering NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with its Snodgrass Mountain expansion proposal. NEPA prescribes a process by which a formal proposal is reviewed, objective studies are prepared and public comment is sought. It allows those in favor of, opposed to, and wanting to know more about the proposal to review the facts and weigh in. The NEPA process is designed to protect the public as the Forest Service is required by law to be objective, respond to public comments and explain its decision.
Protesters marched with signs
Protesters with signs
CBMR is particularly frustrated with the USFS’ decision because it not only flat out denies the opportunity for development; it denies the opportunity for a fair process to reach the decision of whether or not to develop. The proposal for development was rejected before public vetting of the project.CBMR didn’t even get a chance.
Protesters presented a signed invitation from the community to USFS executives to come to Crested Butte and explain their decision. The invitation was signed at a rally that was held in Crested Butte recently and has more then 300 signatures.
Signed invitation for USFS to come to CB
It appears that the manner in which this proposal has been dismissed is contradictory to the procedure created and endorsed by Congress. The Forest Service did not request public comments or notify the public that it was prepared to reject the Snodgrass proposal without preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This precludes the objective environmental and social/economic studies that would be completed in a NEPA process.
Denver news media cover the protest
Plus, in the past few years several Colorado destination resorts on public lands have proposed similar terrain expansions to the U.S. Forest Service, including Telluride, Copper Mountain, Steamboat Springs and Snowmass. In each instance, the proposed expansions received both public support and opposition, but the Forest Service made the decision whether to approve the expansion after conducting a public NEPA process and asking the public to comment on objective studies and on a draft and final EIS.
Snodgrass Mountain is located adjacent to Crested Butte Mountain. It has been designated for ski area expansion in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison Forest Plan (GMUG) since 1978, and has been included in CBMR’s special use permit since 1982. The previous ownership of CBMR received approval to develop lift served skiing on Snodgrass after going through the NEPA process in 1982. 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.
More protest signs
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.
In the meantime, protesters of the Forest Service decision have found a voice via an already over 900-participant-strong Facebook page called “Friends of Ski Lifts on Snodgrass,” created just weeks ago. For more information about the Snodgrass Mountain proposed expansion visit http://www.snodgrassfacts.com“
