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Resort plan requires OK to harm species Wildlife, forest officials expect to confer By BETH QUINN Federal wildlife officials charged with protecting endangered species must allow bald eagles and northern spotted owls to be harmed before the Pelican Butte ski resort can be built. That's one of a number of controversial findings contained in the draft environmental impact statement on the Winema National Forest's preferred plan for developing a $34 million, nine-lift resort for 4,800 daily skiers. Others include: Up to 34 endangered, threatened, sensitive or indicator species may inhabit the 766 acres proposed for the resort. Among them may be the North American lynx, which was seen in the vicinity of the mountain as recently as 1983. In the short term, publicly owned Ski Ashland would lose skiers to Pelican Butte, but by 2020, the new resort would become a regional rather than a local destination. "The barrel was almost scraped clean as far as the effects analysis is concerned," said Klamath District Ranger Rob Shull. "We have spoken to almost every effect that we could dream up or envision." Summaries of the 800-page plan were received this week by 2,000 individuals and groups who've expressed interest in the project. Chief among those is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency charged with protecting endangered and threatened species and habitat critical to their survival. In the Pelican Butte region, those species include bald eagles, spotted owls, peregrine falcons, shortnose suckers, Lost River suckers and Oregon spotted frogs. The lynx may be added to the endangered species list next year. To build the resort, the Winema forest and developer Jeld Wen Inc. must persuade federal wildlife officials to issue two permits that would allow a pair of spotted owls and a pair of bald eagles to be harmed by development. Wildlife officials refused comment on the Winema forest's preferred alternative but Shull said the two agencies will begin formal consultations on that process in January. "There are some big differences of opinion with us as to that project," he said. "Our objective of consulting is to mutually come to the end of the consultation with a biological assessment that it's legal to proceed with the project or to dump the project." Wildlife officials in August tried to derail the Winema forest environmental review, saying their reading of federal environmental laws prohibited new development in the old-growth reserves created in 1994 to protect spotted owls. When Winema forest officials disagreed, the argument was kicked upstairs to a panel of regional executives who have yet to make a decision. But biologist Ralph Opp, who helped write the bald eagle recovery plan that rescued that once-endangered species, said most officials in 1994 believed spotted owl territory was clearly off-limits for development. "That was the thinking: `We're drawing the line at this point in time. We're setting this aside.' But now we're compromising again" he said. "It sort of leaves a bad taste in my mouth that for the good of man and the economy we're going to chip away at this mountain that was set aside." Dozens of local, state and national environmental groups are lining up to stop Pelican Butte development, including the the Oregon Natural Resources Council. "We do not know of any area in the Northwest that has more environmental issues associated with it," said ONRC's Wendell Wood. ``It's a no-brainer." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA