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<br />;'\:"~?119 <br />'- ,-' -- ~- <br /> <br />Record of Decision <br /> <br />The Forest Plan designates the Aspen Highlands Ski Area as a winter sports site (I B) and establishes a <br />general management prescription to integrate ski area development and year-round recreation consistent <br />with other resource management--to provide healthy tree stands, vegetative diversity, forage production <br />for wildlife and livestock, and opportunities for non-motorized recreation. <br /> <br />Forest Plan Amendment 90-2 gives additional direction for recreational resources on the WRNF, including <br />the following goals. <br /> <br />ill Provide a wider variety of site amenities that satisfies the desires of recreational visitors. <br /> <br />ill Provide additional downhill skiing opportunities in accordance with Forest Plan direction. <br />Emphasis will be on expansion of existing sites to meet demand. <br /> <br />ill Encourage the private sector to satisfy the demand for appropriate non-skiing resort experiences <br />at existing permitted resorts and through the development of facilities on private land. <br /> <br />The selected actions involve constructing downhill skiing facilities in an area allocated to winter resort <br />recreation by the Forest Plan. These actions will site-specifically implement land use allocations and the <br />management prescriptions specified for this project area in the Forest Plan; as well as respond to the <br />development proposal of the Aspen Skiing Company. All of the actions approved by this decision are <br />consistent with the Forest Plan. <br /> <br />ASPEN HIGHLANDS SKI AREA MASTER DEVELOPMENT <br />PLAN <br /> <br />As a result of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Decision Notice (ON) in 1994, Aspen Skiing <br />Company was allowed to study the possibility of skiing Highland and Maroon Bowls. A consensus was <br />reached between the Forest Service and the Aspen Skiing Company that if a development proposal was <br />not submitted to the Forest Service within five years, the Special Use Permit boundary would be reduced <br />in size. thereby eliminating these areas from further ski area study or use. <br /> <br />DECISION.AND RATIONALE <br /> <br />I have read the EIS for the Aspen Highlands Ski Area Development proposal and fully understand the <br />environmental effects it discloses. After careful consideration of the analyses, applicable laws, and public <br />comments, I have selected for implementation and authorize the permittee to construct the MDP <br />components discussed below. The selected alternative does not correspond exactly to anyone of the <br />alternatives examined in the EIS; however, it closely resembles the development envisioned in Alternative <br />C. My decision includes substantial modifications that will minimize many of the environmental impacts <br />that would otherwise be associated with implementation of this alternative, and the individual and <br />cumulative environmental impacts. The authorized components are well within the range of physical, <br />biological, and social impacts analyzed and disclosed. <br /> <br />DeCision and RatIOnale <br /> <br />3 <br />