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Comments sought on Mount Ashland plan Appointments available to discuss expansion By Paul fattig of the Mail Tribune ASHLAND -- Linda Duffy wants to hear your questions and comments on the Forest Service's draft environmental impact statement for the Mount Ashland ski area expansion proposal. The ranger in charge of the Rogue River National Forest's Ashland District is inviting those with concerns about the document to come to the district office to talk to members of the agency's interdisciplinary team who helped craft the draft EIS. To schedule an appointment, call project coordinator Steve Johnson at 482-3333. "People who want to learn more information in order to respond to the draft can spend individual time with specialists," Duffy said. "They can do that by phone if they want to, or they can come in to visit us." The goal is to discuss the 600-plus page document in an informal session intended to educate all participants, she said. Individuals or small groups are welcome, she added. A large public learning workshop originally had been scheduled for March 29 at Southern Oregon University to discuss the draft EIS, but Duffy opted to cancel that for the one-on-one format at the district office. "This way, they will be able to meet with soil scientists and others to talk about specific issues," Duffy said. "We want people to call our office and schedule appointments." Released last month, the draft document contains three alternatives, including no action. The other two alternatives include Ski Ashland's $3.3 million proposal and the Forest Service's scaled-back version that addresses issues raised by the public and the agency during its scoping process. There is no preferred alternative. The 45-day comment period on the draft EIS ends April 3. A final EIS and decision is expected late this summer. Earlier this week, both the Rogue Group Sierra Club and Headwaters, an environmental coalition based in Ashland, have called for the draft EIS to be withdrawn. Opponents are concerned about the planned expansion's impact on the watershed feeding the city of Ashland. They also expressed objections to the potential impact on rare plants and the McDonald Peak roadless area. Some have suggested the expansion should occur in the area known as the Knoll instead of into the roadless area. Still others have urged support for the expansion, noting that the ski area needs to expand because of crowded conditions and to create more intermediate and novice ski trails. While the agency is encouraging comments, it is looking for in-depth comments, Duffy said. "People have been writing letters, but most are just either for or against expansion," she said. "We're hoping for more substantive comments, and not just a `yes' or `no' response. We want something that is more substantial in helping us make our decision." Comments that will cause the agency to look again at an issue or from another perspective is particularly helpful, she added. "Public land management on forest land is not up to a vote," she said. The agency originally approved the 1991 expansion request by the Mount Ashland Association, which operates the publicly owned nonprofit facility. New information that has come out since the original EIS and increased interest in the proposal prompted officials to create the new draft EIS. The Mount Ashland Association hopes to build a new chairlift, expand parking and build a 4,200-square-foot, midmountain lodge at the bottom of the area known as the Bowl. The Forest Service alternative would expand the main lodge rather than build the midmountain lodge. It also would eliminate one proposed ski-way across the bottom of the existing ski runs to the base of the new runs and change where the parking would be added. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA