US Forest Service warming up to Breckenridge Peak 6 expansion plan
Despite the strong opposition from the environmental groups and local residents, the US Forest Service has finally shown a positive response to Colorado’s Breckenridge Ski Resort to go ahead with the expansion plan on Peak 6.
Breckenridge Ski Resort is among the most popular ski resorts in America, attracting a huge number of guests each year. Currently operating in only 3,100 acres within its 5,700 acre permit, Breckenridge proposed an expansion plan to the US Forest Service
to develop 550 acres of lift-served and hiked-to skiing as well as 150-seat guest-services facility, s six-person lift, a restaurant, a ski patrol warning hut and backcountry access gates at Peak 6.
The land where the new lifts and runs would be installed according to the proposed plan is controlled by the US Forest Service. Hence, the Vail Resort-owned Breckenridge sent the proposal to them for approval in 2007. However, the Resort failed to get the
approval at that time due to some serious concerns with the plan.
The US Forest Service was not the only one who found a few kinks in the Breckenridge’s proposed plan. The environmentalist strongly opposed the development of Peak 6. Paul Joyce, who is a field director of Durango-based conservation organisation called Colorado
Wild, explained that the development plan on Peak 6 would have a negative impact on the mountain’s old-growth forests, wildlife habitats and remaining wild space, not to mention the elimination of backcountry skiing in Colorado.
“This has just become a marketing tool for the big ski resorts,” Joyce said. “What they don't realize is that after a few years all we'll have left is a bunch of ski runs without any forest.”
According to the forest supervisor of the White River National Forest, Scott Fitzwilliams, the US Forest Service addressed some of these concerns by working with the Peak 6 task force, eventually releasing a draft Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed
Peak 5 development plan on June 10th. The report discussed the necessity for the proposed plan and the alternative options to make the plan even more effective, along with stating the consequences of implanting the alternatives.
After the 45-day comment period for the report expires, a final decision on the feasibility of the Peak 6 project will be taken.
Fitzwilliams has, however, given an initial approval to the plan, stating that the plan accommodates an increased level of visitors to the resort each year and reduces congestion.
The senior vice-president of Breckenridge, Pat Campbell, sees the report and Fitzwilliam’s statement as a significant progress in the approval process. During a news release, he said, “We are excited to see the approval process move forward because we firmly
believe the Peak 6 project as proposed will greatly enhance the recreational experience for our guests.”
The resistance by the community has already leaded to a delay in the approval of the expansion plan on Peak 6. However, if everything goes well this time around and everything moves smooth from here on, then the expansion may complete by the 2012-13 season
at the earliest.
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