Plaintiffs propose mediation in Mt. A expansion

Option will be discussed by Mt. A Association

By Alan Panebaker
Ashland Daily Tidings

More than a year after the U.S. Forest Service approved an expansion for the Mount Ashland Ski Area, environmental groups have requested mediation in the dispute over the proposal to increase skiing terrain.

The expansion plan, which has resulted in a lawsuit and years of dispute, is still on hold pending a judge’s decision regarding the suit by environmental groups against the Forest Service.

“As you know, the community has long been divided over the proposed expansion into the Middle Branch. Comments to the Forest Service regarding the proposal have been equally divided. The community even drafted an alternative to the proposed expansion that was, unfortunately, rejected by the Forest Service,” a letter from Tom Dimitre, chair of the Rogue Group Sierra Club, to Mount Ashland Association President Bill Little reads.

After the Forest Service issued an environmental impact statement approving the ski area expansion in September 2004, the Sierra Club, Headwaters and the Oregon Natural Resources Council filed a lawsuit against Regional Forester Linda Goodman. The lawsuit contends that the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to adequately analyze the amount of erosion generated by the project and not considering an alternative plan that stayed out of the sensitive Middle Branch of the East Fork of Ashland Creek and the MacDonald Roadless Area. Mount Ashland is owned by the City of Ashland, which holds a special use permit through the Rogue River National Forest, and is operated by the non-profit Mount Ashland Association.

Dimitre’s letter states mediation could not only protect Ashland Creek, but it could also lead to an opportunity to keep lift tickets low.

Little replied to Dimitre’s letter citing an interest in mediation pending approval from the entire board. The association will discuss the proposal Monday at its monthly meeting.

In a June 28 letter, Dimitre wrote: “Mediation could help heal the wounds of a divided community, while protecting the Middle Branch from ski expansion.”

Dimitre’s letter did not express a specific new compromise plan but asked for a response before July 5. Little sent a response dated July 3 in response to Dimitre’s proposal thanking him for his interest in the area’s expanding in a financially and economically responsible manner.

Little’s response reads, “Before responding to your request for mediation I feel this matter needs to go before the entire Mt. Ashland Association Board of Directors for its consideration.”

Dimitre’s letter said a more modest expansion would be cheaper and could protect the Middle Branch of Ashland Creek, which leads to the city’s main water supply of Reeder Reservoir. Oral arguments for the lawsuit against the Forest Service are set for Aug. 7 in Medford, and Dimitre’s proposal said the environmental groups hoped to come to a conclusion by July 31. The Forest Service has declared it will not allow any ground disturbance or harvesting of trees for the expansion until the lawsuit is resolved. The Mount Ashland proposed summer work plan outlined plans for the expansion including some falling of timber no sooner than September. Ski area general manager Kim Clark said a private logging operation that can be seen from the Mount Ashland parking lot currently is not part of the proposed expansion.

For now, Tom Dimitre said he hopes the two entities can come to an eventual compromise.

“It wasn’t our first choice to go to court necessarily,” Dimitre said Tuesday. “Our goal is to protect the middle branch and our goal is to do it as best we can ... our goal is to find a way that is satisfactory for both sides.”

For Clark, who is also a member of the association board, the proposal on behalf of the environmental groups lacked a specific plan for a compromise expansion. He said the board of directors would discuss the issue Monday but hopes to hear more specific plans from the environmental groups.

“They need to come to the table with plans,” Clark said. “What exactly is a modest expansion?”

Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or apanebaker@dailytidings.com.

.