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002.8J8 PROPOSED ACTION Chop"r 1 - PlJJ'POSe and Need Under the Proposed Action. the skiable terrain would increase by 541 acres and the terrain capacity would increase from 6.408 skiers to 11.593 skiers. The practical mountain capacity is based on the greatest consll'aint on skier number in each ski pod; in most pods the ski lift capacity is greater than the associated terrain capacity but in a few pods the opposite is ll'Ue. Under ASC's proposal. the practical mountain capacity would increase from 3.230 skiers to 6.014 siders. However. the ASC's proposed management limit for Aspen Highlands (which is based on the 9:00-11:00 a.m. initial lift access capacity) would be 3.480 SAOT. which is substantially less than the 4.500 SAOT mountain capacity permilled under the SUP (USDA-FS 1980 and 1994a). All actions proposed on NFS land fall within the existing SUP area boundary. 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. The ASC proposes to imp1eme:nt the developments at Aspen Highlands in two separate phases. The first phase. described below. would begin immediately following approval by the Forest Supervisor and would be completed within three years. Phase II. also described below. would begin at least three years following approval by the Forest Supervisor. For a full description of the form and function of each element. the reader is referred to the description of alternatives and Figure 2.3 in Cbaptet 2. PHASE. The specific actions proposed for Phase I are itemized below: . Replace the existing Thunderbowl Lift (which is on private land) and the Golden Horn Lift with a new moderate capacity quad chaitlift (proposed Thunderbowl Lift) in a modified alignment. . Add a new fixed grip chairlift (Steeplechase Lift) to serve existing terrain and 90 acres of new. easily accessible. advaoced and expert terrain using existing openings and gladed ridges in Deep Steeplechase. . Clear a new catwalk from mid-mountain to the base of the new Steeplechase Lift. . Extend the existing Olympic Bowl Catwalk to serve the Loge Bowl. . Replace the existing Merry-Go-Round restauraot with a new restaurant in the same general location and approximately of the same size. . Relocate the ski patrol headquarters from the top of the Cloud Nine Lift to south of the upper terminal of the Loge Peak Lift. The new facility would include public resll'oorns and a Forest Service interpretive center. PHASE II The specific actions proposed fot Phase 11 are itemized below: . Add a new ski lift and 190 acres of mainly advanced and expen bowl and gladed terrain in Highland Bowl. . Add a new ski lift and 189 acres of advanced and expen gladed and bowl terrain in Maroon Bowl. . Clear a new catwalk from the bOllom of the Steeplechase Lift to the base of the Highland Bowl Lift. . Extend the snowmaking capability to cover ao additional 227 acres (to reach a total of about 303 acres) from the base area and along the Aspen Highlands ridge to Loge Peak. Proposed AClion. PluuelI 1-5