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Mount Ashland report questioned Development in roadless area raises concerns By Paul Fattig of the Mail Tribune ASHLAND -- Two environmental groups have asked the Rogue River National Forest to withdraw its just-released draft environmental impact statement on the Mount Ashland ski expansion proposal. The Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center and the Rogue Group Sierra Club want the agency to shelve the draft EIS until new alternatives are developed. The 650-page draft EIS released Thursday contains three alternatives: a proposal for expansion by Ski Ashland; a scaled-back version guided by earlier public input; and no action. The problem, said center spokesman Jay Lininger, is that both alternatives supporting expansion would affect the McDonald Peak roadless area. "We use and support the ski area," he said. "But we want alternatives to expanding in the McDonald Peak roadless area. That area is wild and should be left alone." The groups' suggestion came at the beginning of a 45-day comment period on the draft EIS, which ends April 3. Comments on the document will help shape the final decision, officials said. However, they have stressed that the decision to expand the publicly owned ski area atop Mount Ashland in the Ashland Ranger District was made in 1991 after the agency originally studied the Ski Ashland proposal. The new draft EIS was needed because of new information and concerns raised in the last nine years, they said. At issue now are the size, shape and specifics of the expansion. The forest's acting supervisor Tom Reilly anticipates approving some blend of the Ski Ashland proposal and the scaled-back alternative, said Steve Johnson, recreation specialist for the district. Ski Ashland's proposed $3.5 million expansion includes building a new chair lift serving 72 acres of new runs to expand offerings for intermediate and novice skiers. It also wants to expand parking by 200 spaces and build a 4,200-square-foot mid-mountain lodge at the bottom of an area known as The Bowl. The Forest Service also looked at the possibility of expanding the main lodge rather than building the mid-mountain lodge, building a second chair lift to reach the new area rather than a ski-way as proposed by Ski Ashland, and changing where the parking would be added. Those opposed to the two expansion alternatives have expressed concern that the planned expansion could harm the Ashland Creek watershed, the source of Ashland's drinking water, and affect the roadless area as a future wilderness. The agency has failed to consider expanding into a completely different area near the access road, known as The Knoll, they say. A final decision by the agency is expected late this summer. Comments should be sent to: District Ranger Linda Duffy, Ashland Ranger District, 645 Washington St., Ashland, OR 97520. The e-mail address is: sjohnson/r6pnw(underscore)[email protected] Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA