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<br />Aspen High1aruJs Ski Area - Draft Environmental lmpacl Slalemenr <br /> <br />;;C;,iiI!;1~',,::~~::jii~:i[~;ii;I!li0!1;1~1,i~j;,lif:]:~I:li7C118,;\I]!,:j,;;lji:';:I[~::: <br /> <br />, , >',..,' '" ::~:,: <br /> <br />..,,>:>::..>:..' <br /> <br />','..,.;,',..".. <br /> <br />.. ~ ':..:"'..'.;' <br /> <br />::'>:'>::<::,' <br />,':,:,'::,,:: <br /> <br />PROPOSED ACTION <br /> <br />The improvements and expansions proposed by ASC include replacing two existing lifts with a single lift. adding <br />three new lifts. extending an existing catwalk. adding two new catwalks. expanding snowmaking facilities. <br />relocating the ski plUTol headquarters. and replacing an existing restaurant with a new restaurant (Figure I). Tbe <br />ASC proposes to implement the developments at Aspen Highlands in two separate phases; Pbase I would begin <br />immediately following approval by the Forest Supervisor and would be completed within three years. and Phase <br />11 would begin at least three years following approval by the Forest Supervisor. <br /> <br />Under the Proposed Action. the skiable terrain would increase by 541 acres and the terrain capacity (based on <br />skiing proficiency required by the terrain and comfonable skier density for each terrain type) would increase from <br />6,408 skiers to 11,593 skiers. This means that. in the absence of any other constraints. the maximum number <br />of skiers that could comfonably use skiable terrain on A~pen Highlands would increase by 81 percent. However. <br />other constraints. especially the delivery capacity of ski lifts. limit the number of skiers that can use the mountain <br />facilities at anyone time to a much lower number. Tbus without any access constraints. the practical mountain <br />capacity (determined by both terrain capacity and ski lift capacity) would increase from 3.230 skiers to 6.014 <br />skiers under ASC's proposal. This number of skiers would be further limited by the 4.500 maximum skiers-at- <br />one-time (SAar) permitted on Aspen Highlands under the SUP. The delivery capacity of the initial acass lifts <br />(fhunderbowl and Exhibition 1) restrict the number of skiers that can access the on-mountain ski lifts and terrain <br />even further. Between 9:00 a.m. and II :00 a.m.. during whicb time about 80 percent of the daily skiers arrive <br />at Aspen Highlands. the maximum number of skiers that the Thunderbowl and Exhibition I lifts could deliver <br />to the on-mountain facilities would be 3.480 skiers. The ASC's has indicated that this would the upper limit to <br />which Aspen Highlands would be managed in order to ensure low skier densities representative of the current <br />character of Aspen Highlands. Thus no more than 3,480 SAOT would use Aspen Highlands at any given time. <br />While, all actions proposed 00 NFS land fall within the existing SUP area boundary. the ASC's proposal would <br />be affected by development on adjacent private lands over whicb the Forest Service has no jurisdiction. In <br />particular. Hines Interests Limited Partnership (Hines) bas received general submission approval from Pitkin <br />County for a mixed use development at the base of Aspen Highlands Ski Area. <br /> <br />PURPOSE AND NEED FOR PROPOSED ACTION <br /> <br />The Forest Service seeks to fulfill the goals and objectives set forth in the White River National Forest Land and <br />Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and the Rocky Mountain Regional Guide to provide high quality <br />recreatioo on NFS lands by facilitating activities commensurate with the area's potential and demand. Based 00 <br />its review of the ASC's proposal. the Forest Service determined that the proposed action submitted by the ASC <br />is consistent with the land allocation decision in the Forest Plan. Secondly. the proposal was found to be <br />consistent with the planning directions in the Rocky Mountain Regional Guide and the Master Development Plan <br />(MOP) as related to the SUP for Aspen Highlands. Thirdly. there have been no significant new circumstances <br />or changed conditions that indicated that earlier decisions should be altered. <br /> <br />PURPOSE OF PROPOSED ACTION <br />The purpose of the Proposed Action is to expand. upgrade. and improve skiing facilities at Aspen Highlands in <br />order to ensure continued provision of high quality skiing opportunities and services that respond to evolving <br />customer preferences. The specific objectives (purposes) are to: <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />Seclion I <br />Purpose and Need for Proposed Aclion <br />