General manager, Onno Wieringa, weighs in with more details
One of the nice things about having a ski area on public land is that ideas for the area go through the public process – NEPA –National Environmental Policy Act. In October 2012, as we have several times before, we submitted a list of projects to the Forest Service for what is the first step in doing a project on public land. The list involved lift replacements, new lifts, ski run changes, building modifications, snowmaking changes, parking lot changes, etc. The Forest Service analyzed the project requests to see if they were consistent with the forest plan. Then, with good process, the Forest Service and ski area boiled the projects down to a list that we both were comfortable with. At that point the projects were accepted into our Master Development Plan (MDP).
Our ski area then decided we would like to do some of the projects and asked the Forest Service to start the process with us. The Forest Service decided that certain projects were of a scope and nature that they could go through an abbreviated small projects version of NEPA. We currently have a buried line addition to our snowmaking system, mine entrance rebuild, a small underground snowmaking/fire protection reservoir and garbage compactor installation going through that process.
We recently submitted a list of projects to start through the NEPA process and the Forest Service started the public scoping on April 20th. The Forest Service document can be accessed here. I wrote out a few additional thoughts about some of the projects that, according to the Tribune, are leaving some people “perplexed … flummoxed” about why we would even consider doing some of them.
The proposed tram to Baldy is part of an area-wide plan to reduce or eliminate artillery and avalauncher use and increase skier compaction – our long proven best method of avalanche control.
Our Lake Flora replacement proposal is still under study and consideration with Salt Lake City Water as a way to gain snowmaking water storage, as well as storage for Salt Lake City, who owns the water.
The Flora Lift proposal is new and has two prime purposes. The first is to replace the East Baldy Traverse/Return to Collins cat track. The cat track is an almost constant work project for our avalanche office and cat crew and it is often closed during operating hours, disrupting skier flow. Secondly, if we let the cat track snow in for the winter it would make East Baldy a nice long ski run.
All of our recommended lift replacements propose detachable technology that allows us to better regulate skier density while at the same time giving skiers a modern ride.
We think all of the projects proposed will continue to create and offer a well-balanced skiing experience. Years ago we started working with the Forest Service to have the right facilities, trails and lifts to handle a full day at Alta with a quality experience. With our quality skiing program we have the means to limit the number of skiers coming into Alta to maintain the skiing experience our skiers have come to expect. We stop short of calling our proposals improvements as not everyone believes changes make things better. We ski Alta every day and only want to make changes that we think work well for our skiers. Although the Forest Service scoping process is not a vote, it is a time that you can weigh in to help make sure there is a complete analysis of our projects. Public comment will be received through May 26th.
