White Pass ski expansion OK’d

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JEFFREY P. MAYOR; The News Tribune
Published: June 29th, 2007 01:00

The U.S. Forest Service favors an expansion plan for White Pass Ski Area that includes adding two chairlifts, opening 18 new trails and adding 767 acres of terrain.

Staff members with the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Gifford Pinchot national forests released the final environmental impact statement for the project Thursday.

The preferred alternative also includes a 2,000-square-foot midmountain lodge, a new parking lot and a new ticket booth, said Randall Shepard, Naches District Ranger.

“The need for the White Pass Ski Area expansion has been under review for almost 20 years,” Shepard said. “We’ve worked very hard to craft a proposal that maximizes benefits of improved facilities and a 30 percent increase in ski-able terrain, while minimizing adverse environmental and social impacts identified in past studies.”

“When anything goes our way, we’re very excited,” said Shane Sume, White Pass spokesman. “But we’ve been to this point before, so we’re also very cautious. We’ve gotten to this point and had to start over.”

Previous efforts to expand have been stalled by lawsuits that objected to road building in the Hogback Basin, once part of the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area.

Mark Lawler of the Sierra Club’s Cascade Chapter said the group would have preferred improvements within the ski area’s existing 800 acres and without encroaching into the Hogback Basin.

Sume said the area is ready to begin work as soon as it receives final approval. He said work likely would begin with construction of the chairlifts.

The selected alternative authorizes expansion into Pigtail and Hogback basins, including construction of two chairlifts to move skiers up the slopes to access 18 new ski trails utilizing natural openings.

A two-story midmountain day lodge would be constructed to serve skiers in the new area. The facilities would occupy an estimated 70 acres of the expansion area.

The ski area, located on Highway 12 east of Packwood, has had no significant expansions in its permitted area since it was constructed in the 1950s.

The selected alternative, one of five considered, proposes an increase in skier capacity from the current 2,670 skiers to as many as 4,250 skiers at one time.

Publishing of the formal Notice of Availability on July 6 will mark the beginning of a 45-day appeal period within which objections to the decision may be filed.

To learn more

Information on the analysis is available from the Naches Ranger District at 509-653-1446 or at www.fs.fed.us/gpnf.

source: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/98918.html

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Proposed doubling in size challenged

YAKIMA -- A former employee of the U.S. Forest Service has filed an appeal of an agency decision that would allow the White Pass Ski Area to nearly double in size.

Expanding the ski area would benefit a few downhill skiers while hurting backcountry recreation and a fragile natural environment, and the White Pass Co. could operate within the existing permit with only minor changes, Mike Hiler of Yakima contends in his appeal.

Hiler is described as a former Forest Service employee.

"How can the Forest Service justify a 100 percent increase in permit area for only a few alpine skiers over a few peak days while displacing existing year-around users who clearly exceed that number with minimal impacts to resources?" the appeal asked.

The Forest Service issued a record of decision on the proposal July 18, selecting an alternative that would expand the ski area from 805 acres to 1,572 acres. Even with the expansion, White Pass would still be smaller than other major ski areas in the state.

An appeal period closes Sept. 1.

Enlarging White Pass has been the subject of discussion and planning for more than two decades. Previous attempts to obtain approval have been thwarted by lawsuits over road-building in the Hogback area, a roadless region adjacent to the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area that conservationists want to see protected from development.

In response to the ski company's latest proposal to amend its 1979 master development plan, the Forest Service would allow an expansion of 767 acres in the Hogback area, two additional chairlifts, 18 new trails, a midmountain lodge and a new 7-acre parking lot.

Kevin McCarthy, White Pass Ski Area's general manager, said crowding is the real issue and the basis for expanding the ski area into the roadless Hogback Basin to the southwest.

"So much of it is a lot of congestion," said McCarthy, who has not seen the appeal. "The real issue is the ski area is really crowded, and congestion is well beyond acceptable levels."

But Hiler contends in his appeal that the additional parking isn't needed and the ski area is operating at less than capacity. The appeal argues that the proposal should be scaled back to a level the ski area can support and protect the Hogback area as well as the Pacific Crest Trail.

"The proposed loss of this natural setting is unacceptable when it is not necessary to provide for alpine ski development in this area," the appeal said.

The Forest Service has scheduled a Sept. 10 meeting in Wenatchee to try to resolve appeals informally. The deputy regional forester in Portland will review and rule on the appeals.


source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/328922_whitepass24.html

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By Associated Press

YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakama Indians and the Sierra Club are challenging plans to expand the White Pass ski area.

They are appealing the U.S. Forest Service decision to allow the Cascades ski area to double in size. If the Forest Service can't resolve the dispute it could go to federal court.

The tribe says the area where the ski resort would expand, the Hogback basin, has cultural and spiritual significance to the tribe. The Sierra Club says the environmental study for the expansion was inadequate.

from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2003871636_webwhitepass06.html

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By The Associated Press

YAKIMA — The U.S. Forest Service on Friday rejected four appeals of a decision to allow the White Pass Ski Resort to expand into a roadless area long defended by conservationists.

In June, the Forest Service had selected a preferred alternative for expansion that would nearly double the size of the resort located on Highway 12 west of Yakima.

Under the proposal, the ski area would expand to 1,572 acres and add two chairlifts and 18 trails. Included in that acreage would be 767 acres in the Hogback Basin, a pristine area favored by backcountry skiers and snowshoers.

The appeals included two submitted by the Sierra Club and the Yakama Nation. The Sierra Club had argued that the environmental study was inadequate, and the tribe said the expansion area had cultural and spiritual significance. They were rejected in a decision released by Deputy Regional Forester Calvin Joyner.

from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003965021_filler211.html

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Craig Hill,
THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Published: November 22nd, 2007

After more than 20 years of trying, White Pass finally has permission to more than double its terrain.

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest supervisor Becki Lockett Heath signed an amendment to the White Pass Ski Area permit Nov. 16 that includes an additional 767 acres for expansion.

White Pass is 635 acres with six lifts and 32 runs. Expansion plans include two new lifts, 18 new runs and a mid-mountain lodge.

White Pass general manager Kevin McCarthy told The News Tribune in August the expansion would have minimal environmental impact.

The Environmental Impact Statement and record of decision were issued in June, but four appeals were filed. The appeals questioned the impact on a roadless area and the economic viability of the expansion.

The Forest Service’s regional office in Portland affirmed the decision after reviewing the appeals and determined the EIS adequately addressed the concerns.

“We don’t anticipate any dramatic changes to the expansion area through this winter,” Naches District Ranger Randy Shepard said in a statement. “We have only approved selective tree cutting to improve the existing openings for ski trails. Actual constructin of new facilities will be addressed in subsequent implementation plans at some future time.”

Craig Hill, The News Tribune

source: http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/210381.html

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

YAKIMA -- The White Pass Ski Area has agreed to halt work on a major expansion project until a federal judge rules on an appeal by environmental groups seeking to block it.

The agreement is designed to avoid the time and expense of arguing a request for a restraining order to halt all work.

White Pass Co., which owns the ski area, has been seeking to expand for years to reduce congestion at the site, 55 miles west of Yakima on U.S. Route 12. The ski area draws an average of 108,000 visitors a year.

After an environmental review, the U.S. Forest Service issued a record of decision in July to let the ski area add two chairlifts and a midmountain lodge, expand a trail network and move paved parking to reduce congestion and improve safety. The 805-acre ski complex would gain the use of 767 acres in the Hogback Basin, a roadless area now used by backcountry skiers, for a total of 1,572 acres.

The expansion would nearly double the size of the ski area, though the resort would still be smaller than Washington's largest ski resorts.

The Hogback Basin Preservation Association and the Sierra Club filed suit in federal court in Seattle. They maintain that the Forest Service decision violated rules established for roadless areas and failed to comply with environmental and other federal statutes and administrative actions.

Kevin McCarthy, general manager of the ski area, said Tuesday that White Pass and the groups have reached an accord in principle to delay expansion work pending a hearing on the appeal, likely next spring.

"Both sides worked to come up with a voluntary stay so we don't go through the courts," he said. "We agreed to stop at a certain point and let the courts hear the merits."

David Bahr, a lawyer in Eugene, Ore., representing the Hogback Basin groups, said, "White Pass is being reasonable and we are trying to be reasonable and get this whole thing reviewed."

Enlarging White Pass has been the subject of discussion and planning for more than two decades. Previous attempts to obtain approval have been thwarted by lawsuits over road-building in the Hogback area, a roadless expanse adjacent to the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area that conservationists want to see protected from development.

Congress withdrew the Hogback Basin from the Goat Rocks Wilderness in 1984.

The lawsuit contends that the Forest Service's environmental review failed to consider all alternatives or look at the cumulative impact of increasing human activity near wilderness.

"This is the first instance we are aware of in which a ski area is proposed to develop into an inventoried roadless area," Bahr said. "We see it as an important test of whether the rule will survive the threat."

McCarthy said the construction work at White Pass was already under way when the two conservation groups filed suit. But he said the work can be halted without hurting the project.

from: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344256_whitepass20.html

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By Robert Faturechi
Seattle Times staff reporter

A federal judge Wednesday ruled that the White Pass Ski Resort can expand into the Hogback Basin, a patch of rugged terrain that's popular among backcountry skiers and prized by environmentalists.

White Pass Co., which owns the ski area, plans to build ski lifts and a small day lodge on the 800-acre plot, opening the land to skiers in hopes of reducing congestion at the popular ski resort southeast of Mount Rainier National Park.

Expanding White Pass has been a matter of controversy for more than two decades. Though Congress withdrew the Hogback Basin from wilderness protection in 1984, environmental groups have fought in court to keep the roadless terrain free from development.

For years, backcountry skiers have used the land as a getaway from the congested hubbub of popular ski resorts. White Pass president Kevin McCarthy argued that the motivation for opponents of development had more to do with maintaining backcountry skiing in the area than conservation.

"White Pass is just so small. It was very much overcrowded and we needed more space for skiers," McCarthy said. "The backcountry skiers just wanted to be left alone in this area, and we found that incredibly selfish."

The 800-acre ski resort will roughly double its size with the expansion project, but still will be smaller than other ski areas in the region.

"This is very good for those who want to recreate in the state," McCarthy said.

David Bahr, the lawyer for the Hogback Preservation Association, declined to comment on the decision, saying he had not had enough time to analyze the court's opinion. Bahr said there is a possibility for an appeal but a decision had not been made yet.

The Sierra Club, the other plaintiff in the case, could not be reached for comment.

The expansion project is expected to begin next April and last about two years. Work in the basin will be limited to just a few months a year when snow remains but the resort is not operating.

Construction on snow is generally cleaner, more efficient and causes less environmental degradation.

The ski resort, which draws more than 100,000 visitors annually, is roughly 50 miles west of Yakima on Highway 12.

Officials at the ski resort have pledged to keep development light and the terrain roadless. Environmentalists have expressed fear that roads would bring loggers and condominium developers, further degrading the terrain.

from: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008172405_whitepass11m.html