Forest Service chief upholds rejection of ski resort’s expansion plan

A representative of U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell upheld a local supervisor’s decision rejecting a proposal by Crested Butte Mountain Resort to develop lift-served skiing on Snodgrass Mountain. The decision was delivered Wednesday to the ski resort and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests. Gloria Manning, reviewing officer for Tidwell, affirmed the findings of an appeal reviewing officer, clarified some points made in the findings, and agreed Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond’s determination to reject the proposal was consistent with policy, law and regulation. Manning’s decision is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s final administrative determination on the ski resort’s appeal, the Forest Service said...more