BSA News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2002
Contact: Kim Hedberg
Backcountry Skiers Alliance
303.494.5266
bsa@backcountryalliance.org
Backcountry Skiers Alliance Appeals White River Forest Plan
The Backcountry Skiers Alliance (BSA) has filed an appeal over the White River National Forest Plan Revision, saying that certain portions the final plan do not follow laws and regulations pertaining to forest planning with respect to winter recreation issues.
Specifically, five changes have been requested. These include - 1) monitoring of winter recreational conflicts, 2) disclosure of winter recreation conflicts and explanation of how conflicts between users will be addressed, 3) inclusion of management prescriptions in the Vail Pass Area to ensure that the work done by the Vail Pass Task Force is reflected in the plan, 4) motor vehicle closure of areas of the Forest as required by regulation to resolve winter recreation conflicts, and 5) changing allocations of the 8.25 management area prescription to ensure that current quality backcountry terrain is not lost to ski area expansions.
"The levels and location of motorized winter recreation allowed under the Forest Plan will likely cause conflicts with other users," said Kim Hedberg, Executive Director of the Backcountry Skiers Alliance. "This sets the stage for potentially contentious and problematic winter travel management planning in the coming years."
Chuck Ogilby, president of the Vail Pass Task Force, Inc., which has operated since 1990, said, "We seek to balance the diverse and often opposing interests of the motorized and non-motorized communities. As a result of these many years of commitment to trying to resolve these conflicts and the lessons learned as a result, we must appeal this Plan." Specifically, Chuck said, "The Plan does not ensure proper separation of users on Vail Pass."
The Backcountry Skiers Alliance will attempt to negotiate a settlement to its appeal. "We hope the White River National Forest staff will sufficiently modify the plan to resolve our concerns," said Rocky Smith, BSA board member. If negotiations fail to resolve the appeal, the Chief of the US Forest Service will rule on the appeal.
Founded in 1992, the Backcountry Skiers Alliance represents the interests of human-powered winter backcountry users, including skiers, snowshoers, and snowboarders by advocating for the creation, preservation and management of non-motorized areas on public lands. The BSA works to preserve backcountry areas for non-motorized use, promote winter backcountry safety and ethics, and cooperatively resolve conflicts among backcountry users.