SAM Magazine-Crested Butte, Colo., July 15, 2010-Gloria Manning, reviewing officer for U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, yesterday upheld two earlier decisions to reject a proposal by Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) to develop lift-served skiing on Snodgrass Mountain. The decision is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's final administrative determination on the ski resort's appeal, the Forest Service said.

Manning affirmed the earlier findings of appeal reviewing officer Jim Peña, and agreed that Gunnison National.Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond's determination to reject the proposal was consistent with policy, law and regulation. "The Forest Supervisor was not required to conduct environmental analysis to support his decision," she said, regarding a major point of contention.

However, she clarified some points made in Peña's earlier review, directing Richmond to provide guidance to Crested Butte on how an acceptable proposal for Snodgrass might be structured, and if no such proposal is possible, to update the Forest Plan.

"I am troubled by the Forest Supervisor's finding in his decision letter that 'it is not in the public interest to continue to consider development on Snodgrass Mountain any further,'" Manning wrote in her decision. "The finding as stated appears to reflect a conclusion about the suitability of Snodgrass Mountain for any skiing development, rather than just for the proposal made by CBMR."

Manning's decision further directs Richmond to "provide guidance to the Appellant on how they should submit a proposal to provide downhill skiing on Snodgrass Mountain that the authorized officer would find acceptable and consistent with the Forest Plan. If no such alternative exists," she continued, Richmond should "consider whether a change to the Forest Plan is needed to reflect current suitability determinations for Snodgrass Mountain and, if so, to determine the most appropriate time and means for changing the Forest Plan guidance."

That was of little comfort to CBMR, however. "Of course, we're incredibly disappointed with this decision," CBMR president Tim Mueller told the Crested Butte News. "The Forest Service has decided it is appropriate for one Forest Service employee to decide the future of an entire community with no public process whatsoever." As far as next steps, he added, "We are considering all of our options."

In a statement, Richmond said, "I am pleased that the chief's review agreed that we complied with the intent and requirements of federal law and Forest Service regulations." He added, "Now, we can focus on further strengthening our relationships within the community and work toward a sustainable future for the Gunnison Valley-economically and environmentally."