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Aspen Highlands Ski Area - Final Em'ironmentallmpact Statement SECTION II THE ALTERNATIVES ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL This section describes the range of alternatives analyzed in the EIS, including No Action (Alternative A), the pennittee's Proposed Action (Alternative B) and an alternative to this proposal (Alternative C). Alternative C has been identified as the Forest Service's Preferred Alternative because it represents a reasonable balance between meeting the purpose of the Proposed Action and minimizing adverse impacts to important natural resources. However, identification of a preferred alternative by the WRNF Forest Supervisor in the Final EIS should not be construed as pre-decisional. The final decision that will be incorporated in the ROD will depend on the comments received from the public during the comment period, and may include all or part of any of the three alternatives. ALTERNATIVE A. No ACTION The No Action Alternative serves as a benchmark for comparing the action alternatives. Activities would be limited to those using existing facilities and upgraded facilities already approved by the Forest Service, or those not requiring Forest Service approval. Several previously approved actions that have not yet been implemented would take place under and be part of the No Action Alternative (Figure 2). Existing facilities associated with the Aspen Highlands Ski Area but not part of the upgrades approved in 1994 occur both within the penn it area and on private land north of the penn it area. Facilities within the pennit area include the Golden Horn Lift, the Merry-Go-Round restaurant, and the PHQ at the top of the Cloud Nine Lift. The Thunderbowl Lift and the 76 acres of snowmaking terrain are located on private land north of the SUP area. The privately owned base area also contains a lodge, ski shop, skier services, maintenance/storage facilities, and a parking lot for 742 vehicles. Access to the ski area is facilitated by the Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFT A) skier shuttle service from Aspen and Snowmass, and the city bus service from Aspen. Current summer recreation activities at Aspen Highlands consist of very limited hiking and mountain biking. Motorized access to NFS land is restricted by gates at the base of the Aspen Highlands Ski Area. In response to a request by the ASC to upgrade services at Aspen Highlands, the 1994 Finding of No Significance/Decision Notice resulted in the approval of a two-phase development for Aspen Highlands aimed at upgrading 30-year-old ski lifts, better utilizing public land committed to skiing under the SUP, and improving maintenance facilities. Phase I tasks that were completed in 1994 included removing the Nugget Lift, replacing Exhibition I and Loge Peak lifts, widening the T-Lazy-7 Catwalk, and glading terrain in the St. Moritz/Boomerang, Golden Hom/Park Avenue, Apple StrudeVMoment-of-Truth, and T- Lazy- 7 CatwaIk/Exhibition I areas. The approved relocation of the maintenance facility to a site northeast of the Merry-Go-Round restaurant was initiated but not completed in 1994, while construction of an underground utility corridor from the Aspen Highlands base area via the Merry-Go-Round restaurant to Loge Peak was not initiated in 1995. Phase II pertains to removing the Grand Prix and Olympic lifts, and upgrading the Cloud Nine and Exhibition II lifts in or after 1995. While the Grand Prix Lift was removed in 1995, the remaining phase II developments have not yet been initiated. Under the No Action Alternative (as well as all other alternatives) access to and egress from Aspen Highlands would be affected by implementing the Aspen Highlands base area development plan that has 8 Section /I Alternatives Considered in Detail