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Gathering signatures By MYLES MURPHY Ashland Daily Tidings In an attempt to galvanize community discussion, Mount Ashland Ski Area expansion opponents have gathered more than 1,000 signatures on a petition challenging the U.S. Forest Service's preferred alternative for the project. "One thing we want to do is put pressure on the city council take active role on the process," signature gatherer Eric Navickas said. The latest draft impact statement - released Monday - follows the 2000 document, which had no preferred alternative and drew about 1,500 comments. Many were concerned about the impact on the plants and the city of Ashland's only water supply, which comes from the watershed. Those concerns remain with the new preferred alternative. "It's our drinking water - it's an Ashland issue," Navickas said. "The large number of Ashland signatures that we have already collected is a testament to the fact that the citizenry of Ashland does not support this expansion proposal." Alternative 6 addresses those issues by reducing effects to the sensitive mountain wetlands and the rare species found there, according to Jeff Hanson, Mount Ashland Ski Area general manager. "We've been working at this since 1984 and made significant changes over time based on the needs," Hanson said. "We certainly think the proposal meets all the needs. It's good for the community, good financially, and it's quite clear the impacts are low and negligible in all areas. We think this is the best way to do it." In the preferred alternative, the new ski area would include new areas for both beginner and expert level skiers, largely on the western side of the mountain. Earlier expansion plans in that area had drawn the ire of some environmental activists. The ski area currently includes 123 acres of ski runs and four chair lifts. The preferred action is one of six alternatives in the 1,000-page document. The document is a draft, not a final decision, according to Rogue River National Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy "We're weighing the comparison of alternatives right now, and what public input needs to do is to identify new impacts and new issues we missed, so we can evaluate them," Conroy said. But without new information or new interpretations of data, the preferred alternative is just that - the preferred alternative. "Certainly the opinions of people in the community do come into play, but this isn't a vote," Conroy said. "We're really looking for new information. It's more about the substance of their reasons (to support or oppose the expansion). It's really important people say more than they're for it or against it." Most of the ski area is on the Rogue River National Forest's Ashland Ranger District but a small portion is on the northern edge of the Klamath National Forest. The final decision could include elements of other alternatives. The expansion proposal began nearly two decades ago in 1985 when the ski area was privately owned. In July of 1991 the agency approved a programmatic master plan for ski area expansion. The clock is already ticking on a 60-day comment period. The deadline for commenting is Sept. 25. Comments can be sent by regular mail to: John Schuyler, acting ranger, Ashland District, 645 Washington St., Ashland, OR 97520. They can also be faxed to 541-858-2402. Comments can be sent via e-mail to comments-pacificnorthwest-rogueriver- [email protected]. Copies of the document will be available later this week in libraries in Ashland, Medford and Yreka, as well as Southern Oregon University. Limited copies also are available at the Ashland Ranger District office. The new draft statement is posted at www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue on the Web. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -