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Council uneasy with ski issue By MYLES MURPHY Ashland Daily Tidings With the recent release of the U.S. Forest Service's draft environmental impact statement for the Mt. Ashland Ski Area expansion proposal, some look to the Ashland City Council for guidance. But the council itself is split on whether it should even discuss the issue. "It's one of the few things where no (council) voice would be appropriate," Councilor Alex Amarotico said. "It's an independent business doing what they think they should be doing. We'd be meddling if we gave an opinion either way." Amarotico points at the Mount Ashland Association - the non-profit group which runs the ski area - as the proper source of direction for the area. But he does have some reservations about the expansion. "I'm not as worried as some about the environmental impacts, but from my perspective it doesn't necessarily make the best business sense to me," Amarotico said. "My stance is to stay out of it as much as possible unless there's financial liability for the city." Councilor Chris Hearn has a similar perspective. "The city delegated authority to the Mt. Ashland Association," Hearn said. "The Mt. Ashland Association is charged with making decisions about operation and management. Personally, I don't feel qualified to supersede those people with my analysis." Hearn also said he has "concerns" about the expansion, and added "for us to swoop in when it's politically expedient to tell them what to do seems to me like micro-management." The ski area is leased by the Mount Ashland Association from the city of Ashland, which holds a special use permit for the ski area from the Forest Service. In the event of the ski area's financial collapse, the city could be on the line financially to restore the area to its original state. Expansion of the area is part of the MAA long-term plan, and supporters believe the present lack of beginning and intermediate skill-level ski runs hampers the ski area's ability to be successful. Opponents question the wisdom of developing more land high in the Ashland Watershed, claiming that the expansion would threaten the viability of some plant and animal species and increase erosion in the area which supplies water for the city. "It's a very complex issue which, quite frankly, I don't have background to make an intelligent decision," councilor Don Laws said. "I'm not so concerned about the erosion part. Since we fixed up the roads up there and did a lot ow work we have reduced the erosion enormously." "But I am concerned about endangered species and the liability of the city if (the ski area) has several bad years snow-wise and is forced to close down," Laws added. "All we (as a council) can do is express a concern with the Forest Service." But the basis for any concern may be in question, as scientists and other environmental and financial "experts" on both sides of the issue have come to very different conclusions on the merits or impacts of expansion. "I'll have to decide between experts based on my ability to decide which experts are more accurate," Laws said. Councilor Kate Jackson - who has a background in soils science - plans to take a close look at the expansion's possible impacts on the watershed. "I am concerned with disturbing the sandy soils and the wetlands, and erosion control in general," Jackson said. "Of course the EIS does not deal with the financial aspects (of the expansion). As the permit holder, we have the responsibility to look at it." "At some point it will come up at the city council," Jackson said. "Certainly the city should comment." Councilor Cate Hartzell agreed the issue is pressing enough to discuss at the council level. "We are the caretakers of our municipal water system; we are the stewards of those resources," Hartzell said. "I believe it's very appropriate for council discussion and it would be my hope we would come out with a comment from the council. What I hope (the final expansion plan) looks like is long-term protection of the sensitive ecosystems that are up there." Local activist Eric Navickas has gathered more than 10,000 signatures on a petition challenging the preferred alternative for the project, and has repeatedly urged the council to step into the fray with a statement. Such efforts defeat the public process, Hearn believes, reaffirming his contention that the council should stay out of the discussion at this point. "It looks kind of like an end run around the process," Hearn said. "It's a political hot potato." On vacation in Canada, Councilor John Morrison was unaware the document had been released. "I look forward to taking a look at it," Morrison said in a telephone interview. "What goes on there is of immense importance to us. We'll want to review what's going on and express an opinion." Morrison is not the only one who has not examined the document. None of the councilors felt confident that they had yet delved into the draft sufficiently to form opinions. The two-volume document is nearly four inches thick and weighs in at more than six pounds. It will be a while before even the most dedicated councilors wade through the tome. "I do have a copy, but it's a little intimidating," Amarotico said. "It's so think." If the council does decide to discuss and comment on the plan, time is running out. The 60-day public comment period ends 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 [email protected]. Copies of the document will be available later this week in libraries in Ashland, Medford and Yreka, Calif.,, 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. Field trips to the Mount Ashland ski area are scheduled for Aug. 23, 27, 30 and Sept. 3, each beginning at 9 a.m. and ending around 3:30 p.m. An open house and public hearing are planned for September, although the date has yet to be decided. 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 -