Hackle
02-19-2004, 02:46 PM
The Forest Service released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on February 2, 2004. A 60-day comment period began February 13, 2004, which is intended to give the general public an opportunity to comment on the Preferred Alternative.
Now is the time to act! We need your support in writing letters to the Forest Service supporting their decision. Please view the attached document for further instructions on how we need your help.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
David Smith
--
Dave Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Arizona Snowbowl
928.779.1951 x115
dsmith@arizonasnowbowl.com
PRESERVE SKIING & SNOWBOARDING!
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE FOREST SERVICE
60 day Public Comment period continues through April 13, 2004
We are very pleased that the Forest Service selected Alternative Two as the Preferred
Alternative. Alternative Two includes the improvements that we feel must be implemented in
order to advance the quality and reliability of our ski area.
As supporters of the ski area our task / objective is to provide the Forest Service with positive
comments. We want and need you and everyone that supports winter recreation to send a
favorable comment. The public comment period is not a “vote” based on the number of
comments, however, we are seeking thousands of comments.
Comments on form letters or petitions will be hastily discarded. Comments should be based on
an individual’s conviction, experience, or a substantive aspect of the process and analysis.
Simply put, our objective is to support the Forest Service, the EIS process, and the preferred
alternative. We are asking you to take five minutes of your time to support Arizona
Snowbowl.
Please use the following list of topics as examples or sample topics for your letter. Letters may
be mailed to the Forest Service or sent via e-mail using the Coconino National Forest web site.
1. Describe your personal, family or business point of view.
2. Community benefits; economic, social, tourism, etc. The preferred alternative
identifies over 200 new jobs created, increasing property & sales taxes over 2.5
times current levels, and over $20 million annual impact in visitor spending.
3. Support the Forest Service process; the thoroughness of analysis, impressive
research, determination of effects, handling of the significant issues, reaching the
conclusion of negligible environmental effects, outreach to Tribal members, etc.
4. Skiing and snowboarding is proper use of public land; winter recreation is
important and the Forest Service should approve the proposal to sustain the ski
area. Citizens have the right to recreate on public land. The ski area permit area
is 1% of the 74,000 acres of public land on the San Francisco Peaks. The demand
for winter recreation exceeds the supply of existing facilities in a fast growing
state like Arizona. The Forest Service has authorized a permit for skiing and
should authorize snowmaking and improvements to ensure that Flagstaff and
Arizona citizens continue to have a quality ski area for future generations. 1% of
the San Francisco Peaks is a reasonable allocation for winter recreation.
5. Flagstaff and Arizona skiers and snowboarders deserve and expect the same ski
area facilities found at other ski areas on public land. Quality recreation begins
with adequate facilities and equipment. Long lift lines, congested ski trails, lack
of dining seating and lack of automation are examples of how Snowbowl has not
maintained pace with other ski areas.
6. Need for predictability. Snowbowl cannot continue to operate at current levels
and provide existing services without a more predictable snow / business cycle.
The no action and no snowmaking alternative assure the ski area will not make
any major improvements. Ownership commitment and delivery of service will be
jeopardized.
7. Upgrade components are necessary for achieving balance and service levels for
current customer capacity. Snowbowl plans to replace double and triple fixed
grip chairlifts with modern high speed quad lifts; there is a lack of terrain and
variety for intermediate skiers and snowboarders which comprise the majority of
guests; guest services facilities have not kept up with demand, existing indoor
seating capacity is 500 and should be 900, kitchens and storage space are
inadequate; a snowplay area is badly needed to serve non skiers. All of the above
project components are included in the preferred alternative, however, it is not
feasible to make these improvements without the consistency and predictability
that snowmaking offers.
8. Almost all ski areas (88%) in the western U.S. on public land have snowmaking
capabilities. Arizona Snowbowl has chosen to use reclaimed water rather than
potable water even though it is more expensive. Preserving potable water we
believe is a better idea.
Alternative Two must be supported and approved. The No Action alternative means
no future improvements for Arizona Snowbowl. Alternative Three approves new
trails, chairlifts, and base facility improvements but not snowmaking. There is no
way these improvements can be implemented and paid for without assurance of a
predictable business.
Thank you for your support. Submit your comments to the Coconino National Forest directly:
In writing: Ken Jacobs, Team Leader
5075 N. Hwy 180
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Email: Link to the Forest Service site from: www.arizonasnowbowl.com
Click on the “comments” link
Coconino National Forest will hold a public Open House on:
February 25, 2004 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Flagstaff High School
Now is the time to act! We need your support in writing letters to the Forest Service supporting their decision. Please view the attached document for further instructions on how we need your help.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
David Smith
--
Dave Smith
Director of Sales & Marketing
Arizona Snowbowl
928.779.1951 x115
dsmith@arizonasnowbowl.com
PRESERVE SKIING & SNOWBOARDING!
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE FOREST SERVICE
60 day Public Comment period continues through April 13, 2004
We are very pleased that the Forest Service selected Alternative Two as the Preferred
Alternative. Alternative Two includes the improvements that we feel must be implemented in
order to advance the quality and reliability of our ski area.
As supporters of the ski area our task / objective is to provide the Forest Service with positive
comments. We want and need you and everyone that supports winter recreation to send a
favorable comment. The public comment period is not a “vote” based on the number of
comments, however, we are seeking thousands of comments.
Comments on form letters or petitions will be hastily discarded. Comments should be based on
an individual’s conviction, experience, or a substantive aspect of the process and analysis.
Simply put, our objective is to support the Forest Service, the EIS process, and the preferred
alternative. We are asking you to take five minutes of your time to support Arizona
Snowbowl.
Please use the following list of topics as examples or sample topics for your letter. Letters may
be mailed to the Forest Service or sent via e-mail using the Coconino National Forest web site.
1. Describe your personal, family or business point of view.
2. Community benefits; economic, social, tourism, etc. The preferred alternative
identifies over 200 new jobs created, increasing property & sales taxes over 2.5
times current levels, and over $20 million annual impact in visitor spending.
3. Support the Forest Service process; the thoroughness of analysis, impressive
research, determination of effects, handling of the significant issues, reaching the
conclusion of negligible environmental effects, outreach to Tribal members, etc.
4. Skiing and snowboarding is proper use of public land; winter recreation is
important and the Forest Service should approve the proposal to sustain the ski
area. Citizens have the right to recreate on public land. The ski area permit area
is 1% of the 74,000 acres of public land on the San Francisco Peaks. The demand
for winter recreation exceeds the supply of existing facilities in a fast growing
state like Arizona. The Forest Service has authorized a permit for skiing and
should authorize snowmaking and improvements to ensure that Flagstaff and
Arizona citizens continue to have a quality ski area for future generations. 1% of
the San Francisco Peaks is a reasonable allocation for winter recreation.
5. Flagstaff and Arizona skiers and snowboarders deserve and expect the same ski
area facilities found at other ski areas on public land. Quality recreation begins
with adequate facilities and equipment. Long lift lines, congested ski trails, lack
of dining seating and lack of automation are examples of how Snowbowl has not
maintained pace with other ski areas.
6. Need for predictability. Snowbowl cannot continue to operate at current levels
and provide existing services without a more predictable snow / business cycle.
The no action and no snowmaking alternative assure the ski area will not make
any major improvements. Ownership commitment and delivery of service will be
jeopardized.
7. Upgrade components are necessary for achieving balance and service levels for
current customer capacity. Snowbowl plans to replace double and triple fixed
grip chairlifts with modern high speed quad lifts; there is a lack of terrain and
variety for intermediate skiers and snowboarders which comprise the majority of
guests; guest services facilities have not kept up with demand, existing indoor
seating capacity is 500 and should be 900, kitchens and storage space are
inadequate; a snowplay area is badly needed to serve non skiers. All of the above
project components are included in the preferred alternative, however, it is not
feasible to make these improvements without the consistency and predictability
that snowmaking offers.
8. Almost all ski areas (88%) in the western U.S. on public land have snowmaking
capabilities. Arizona Snowbowl has chosen to use reclaimed water rather than
potable water even though it is more expensive. Preserving potable water we
believe is a better idea.
Alternative Two must be supported and approved. The No Action alternative means
no future improvements for Arizona Snowbowl. Alternative Three approves new
trails, chairlifts, and base facility improvements but not snowmaking. There is no
way these improvements can be implemented and paid for without assurance of a
predictable business.
Thank you for your support. Submit your comments to the Coconino National Forest directly:
In writing: Ken Jacobs, Team Leader
5075 N. Hwy 180
Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Email: Link to the Forest Service site from: www.arizonasnowbowl.com
Click on the “comments” link
Coconino National Forest will hold a public Open House on:
February 25, 2004 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Flagstaff High School