A proposal to expand the federal Ski Area Permit Act to recognize winter sports beyond alpine and nordic skiing and promote summer recreation is drawing concern from environmental groups.
The draft bill by U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, is aimed at updating the 1986 law to reflect the changing nature of ski resorts operating on U.S. Forest Service land.
“My bill would make it clear that activities like mountain biking, concerts and other appropriate uses can be allowed at these ski areas,” Udall said in a statement.
Environmental groups say they are worried that the language in the draft is too broad.
“The concern is that this will open the door for things like water parks or roller coasters,” said Ryan Bidwell, executive director of Colorado Wild.
Amy Mall, a senior policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said ski resorts shouldn’t get preferential treatment.
“The bill needs to be explicit that when it comes to summer activities, ski resorts have to meet the same rules and standards as an outfitter or any other permit applicant,” Mall said.
Still, both environmentalists and ski industry officials say the act needs to be reworked.
“The act no longer reflects what is going on at resorts,” said Geraldine Link, policy director for the Lakewood-based National Ski Areas Association.
In the winter, there are tubers, snowboarders and ski-bikers on the slopes, as well as skiers, Link said. During the summer, they are replaced by mountain bikers, zipliners (who slide down the slopes on elevated rope lines) and hikers.
“We just need to clarify that such diverse activities are consistent with the act,” Link said.
Udall’s draft bill, which is open to public comment, would change nordic and alpine skiing to “skiing and snowsports” and allow for year-round “natural-resource based” outdoor recreation.
Ski resorts have been adding summer activities to their master plans for decades, said Ken Kowynia, winter sports program manager for the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Region.
The resorts usually hold a 40-year permits and propose changes through their master plans, which are reviewed by the Forest Service and might require an environmental assessment, Kowynia said.
For example, in the case of a proposed roller coaster at Vail, Kowynia said, “the analysis found that the proposal was bumping up against the line of what was appropriate.”
Still, he said, “The Forest Service has an interest in seeing that the ski resorts are successful in the goal of providing natural-resource-based recreation.”
Mark Jaffe: 303-954-1912 or MJaffe@denverpost.com
