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Aspen Highlands Ski Area. Final Environmentallmpacl Slolemenl SECTION I PURPOSE AND NEED PROPOSED ACTION The improvements and expansions proposed by ASC include replacing two existing lifts with a single lift, adding three new lifts, extending an existing catwalk, adding two new catwalks, expanding snowmaking facilities, relocating the ski patrol headquarters, and replacing an existing restaurant with a new restaurant (Figure I). ASC proposes to implement the developments at Aspen Highlands in two separate phases; Phase I would begin immediately following approval by the Forest Supervisor and would be completed with in three years, and Phase II would begin at least three years following approval by the Forest Supervisor. Under the Proposed Action, the skiable terrain would increase by 54 I acres and the terrain capacity (based on skiing proficiency required by the terrain and comfortable skier density for each terrain type) would increase from 6,408 skiers to 11,593 skiers. This means that, in the absence of any other constraints, the maximum number of skiers that could comfortably use skiable terrain on Aspen Highlands would increase by 81 percent. However, other constraints, especially the delivery capacity of ski lifts, limit the number of skiers that can use the mountain facilities at anyone time to a much lower number. Thus without any access constraints, the practical mountain capacity (determined by both terrain capacity and ski lift capacity) would increase from 3,230 skiers to 6,014 skiers under ASC's proposal. This number of skiers would be further limited by the 4,500 maximum skiers-at-one-time (SAOT) permitted on Aspen Highlands under the SUP. The delivery capacity of the initial access lifts (Thunderbowl and Exhibition I) restrict the number of skiers that can access the on-mountain ski lifts and terrain even further. Between 9:00 a.m. and 11 :00 a.m., during which time about 80 percent of the daily skiers arrive at Aspen Highlands, the maximum number of skiers that the Thunderbowl and Exhibition I lifts could deliver to the on- mountain facilities would be 3,480 skiers. ASC has indicated that this would be the upper limit to which Aspen Highlands would be managed in order to ensure low skier densities representative of the current character of Aspen Highlands. Thus no more than 3,480 SAOT would use Aspen Highlands at any given time. While, all actions proposed on NFS land fall within the existing SUP area boundary, the ASC's proposal would be affected by development on adjacent private lands over which the Forest Service has no jurisdiction. In particular, Hines Interests Limited Partnership (Hines) has received general submission approval from Pitkin County for a mixed use development at the base of Aspen Highlands Ski Area. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR PROPOSED ACTION The Forest Service seeks to fulfill the goals and objectives set forth in the White River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and the Rocky Mountain Regional Guide to provide high quality recreation on NFS lands by facilitating activities commensurate with the area's potential and demand. Based on its review of the ASC's proposal, the Forest Service determined that the proposed action submitted by the ASC is consistent with the land allocation decision in the Forest Plan. Secondly, the proposal was found to be consistent with the planning directions in the Rocky Mountain Regional Guide and the Master Development Plan (MOP) as related to the SUP for Aspen Highlands. Thirdly, there have been no significant new circumstances or changed conditions that indicated that earlier decisions should be altered. 2 Section I Purpose and Needfor Propo3ed Action