Mail Tribune News - Sierra Club, Ski Ashland talks at impasse

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2000-09-14

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Sierra Club, Ski Ashland talks at impasse Talks of a compromise between the Rogue Group Sierra Club and Ski Ashland over the resort's proposed expansion have apparently broken down. Charlotte Holzkamper, chairwoman of the local Sierra Club, said Friday that alternatives offered by the group to Ski Ashland's offer were rejected, and "they said they'll see us in court." Ski Ashland's general manager, Jeff Hanson, said Friday that the Sierra Club essentially put forth the same issues it had in its lawsuit, and there was no discussion of what Ski Ashland had offered. Hanson said the next step is a hearing before a federal judge. Earlier this week, the Mount Ashland Association proposed scaling back its plans for a new sewage treatment plant to avoid a court battle. The Rogue Group Sierra Club filed suit in June to block construction of the larger plant; the club now has gained an extension to the injunction that will halt work until near the end of the month. The Sierra Club is also dissatisfied with the association's handling of environmental impact statements regarding both the sewage plant and another project, which would add five new ski runs on the mountain. "We are still prepared to consider anything else they might want to do and are willing to negotiate," Holzkamper said. Mail Tribune Copyright �  The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA