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45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, November 13, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 9, 2004 Opponents appeal Mount Ashland plan By EMILY MORRIS for the Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Thirteen people visited the Ashland Ranger District station Monday to present their appeal to the U.S. Forest Service’s authorization of the Mount Ashland ski area expansion. Monday was the appeals deadline. The Forest Service approval of a 71-acre expansion that includes sensitive ecological habitat and expansion into a roadless area has been a divisive community issue for years. Opponents say the Forest Service decision does not take into account the cumulative effects of ground disturbance, and among other things is based on unsound soil science. Proponents say the expansion will have minimum ecological impact and is necessary for the continued operation of the community-owned resort. About 30 individual appeals and two group appeals were filed, said event organizer Tracy Bungay, a local environmentalist. Advertisement The appeals process is intended to uncover data that may have been missed by the Forest Service or errors that occurred during the federal approval process, said Ashland District Ranger Linda Duffy. She was at a meeting, so was not able to personally receive the appeals. In the coming weeks Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy and appellants will hold mediations, but Conroy will receive direction from the appeals resolution team in the regional office, Duffy said. "I would like to think we spent the taxpayers’ money wisely and did a good job on process," Duffy said. "The decision is really in Portland now." Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Linda Goodman in Portland has until Dec. 23 to make a decision. Joyce Casey of the Forest Service’s resolution team said controversial projects average around 10 appeals; the Biscuit timber sale received 37 appeals, she said. Only people who submitted substantive written or verbal comments during the scoping process or comment period have standing to file an appeal. Local environmentalists held a workshop in Ashland last month during which they learned about the appeal process and were given a model based on a similar appeal. Tom Rose, a member of the Rogue Group Sierra Club, who was not at Monday’s event, submitted a personal appeal and was part of the club’s appeal. Rose stuck to two critical issues: concerns about the ski area’s finances, and the estimate of future skier demands. He said the latter seems to be based on inappropriate data. Emily Morris is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities