Quantcast

What will this mean for DH?

gemini2k

gemini2k

Turbo Monkey
Jul 31, 2005
3,526
117
San Francisco
More resorts and easier regulation for MTB parks?

SportsOneSource.com - Sporting Goods Business UPDATE

A bill authorizing summer and year-round activities at ski areas on Forest System lands has passed Congress and is expected to be signed into law soon by President Barack Obama. The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act (S. 382/H.R. 765) paves the way for more robust summer operations at the nation’s 121 ski areas that operate on public lands.
Click to expand...
 
Sandwich

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,648
6,861
borcester rhymes
Well that would be terrific if whiteface and snow could build some fresh trails....and it sounds like they may be able to. Maybe DH mike will chime in.
 
Matchew

Matchew

Monkey
May 26, 2006
511
0
NH / Mass (ugh)
Mount Snow is the first mountain to come to mind for me here in the east. From what I understand the upper half of the mountain is national forest and trails could only be built after a rather lengthy and strict permitting process. Every time I'd glimpse in the woods there I would see potential for amazing trails.
 
Last edited:
Zark

Zark

Hey little girl, do you want some candy?
Oct 18, 2001
6,254
7
Reno 911
Mr Lahey said:
Hopefully good things for Snow Summit.
Click to expand...
Snow Summit does NOT give a f*ck about us, they tucked their tails and ran at the first sign of liability. Investing in infrastructure isn't exactly something they did when they did have races there. Dream on.
 
downhill mike

downhill mike

Turbo Monkey
Mar 23, 2005
1,286
4
Sandwich said:
Well that would be terrific if whiteface and snow could build some fresh trails....and it sounds like they may be able to. Maybe DH mike will chime in.
Click to expand...
We really don't need that as we are already allowed to build more new trails.
 
bizutch

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,929
24
Over your shoulder whispering
It just sounds like there is something on the books now specific to summer operations on USFS lands. That should basically make it easier to draft requests specific to MTB activities?
 
-BB-

-BB-

I broke all the rules, but somehow still became mo
Sep 6, 2001
4,254
28
Livin it up in the O.C.
FUll text of the bill:

S.382 said:
S 382 RS

Calendar No. 135

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 382

[Report No. 112-55]

To amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 17, 2011

Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. ENSIGN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. RISCH, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. ENZI, Mr. HELLER, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, and Ms. CANTWELL) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

August 30 (legislative day, August 2), 2011

Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of August 2, 2011, by Mr. BINGAMAN, without amendment

A BILL

To amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011’.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b)--

(1) to enable snow-sports (other than nordic and alpine skiing) to be permitted on National Forest System land subject to ski area permits issued by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 3 of the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b); and

(2) to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to permit appropriate additional seasonal or year-round recreational activities and facilities on National Forest System land subject to ski area permits issued by the Secretary of Agriculture under section 3 of the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b).

SEC. 3. SKI AREA PERMITS.

Section 3 of the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘nordic and alpine ski areas and facilities’ and inserting ‘ski areas and associated facilities’;

(2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘nordic and alpine skiing operations and purposes’ and inserting ‘skiing and other snow sports and recreational uses authorized by this Act’;

(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively;

(4) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:

‘(c) Other Recreational Uses-

‘(1) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY- Subject to the terms of a ski area permit issued pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary may authorize a ski area permittee to provide such other seasonal or year-round natural resource-based recreational activities and associated facilities (in addition to skiing and other snow-sports) on National Forest System land subject to a ski area permit as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

‘(2) REQUIREMENTS- Each activity and facility authorized by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall--

‘(A) encourage outdoor recreation and enjoyment of nature;

‘(B) to the extent practicable--

‘(i) harmonize with the natural environment of the National Forest System land on which the activity or facility is located; and

‘(ii) be located within the developed portions of the ski area;

‘(C) be subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and

‘(D) be authorized in accordance with--

‘(i) the applicable land and resource management plan; and

‘(ii) applicable laws (including regulations).

‘(3) INCLUSIONS- Activities and facilities that may, in appropriate circumstances, be authorized under paragraph (1) include--

‘(A) zip lines;

‘(B) mountain bike terrain parks and trails;

‘(C) frisbee golf courses; and

‘(D) ropes courses.

‘(4) EXCLUSIONS- Activities and facilities that are prohibited under paragraph (1) include--

‘(A) tennis courts;

‘(B) water slides and water parks;

‘(C) swimming pools;

‘(D) golf courses; and

‘(E) amusement parks.

‘(5) LIMITATION- The Secretary may not authorize any activity or facility under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that the authorization of the activity or facility would result in the primary recreational purpose of the ski area permit to be a purpose other than skiing and other snow-sports.

‘(6) BOUNDARY DETERMINATION- In determining the acreage encompassed by a ski area permit under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall not consider the acreage necessary for activities and facilities authorized under paragraph (1).

‘(7) EFFECT ON EXISTING AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES- Nothing in this subsection affects any activity or facility authorized by a ski area permit in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection during the term of the permit.’;

(5) by striking subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph (3)), and inserting the following:

‘(d) Regulations- Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this section.’; and

(6) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by paragraph (3)), by striking ‘the National Environmental Policy Act, or the Forest and Rangelands Renewable Resources Planning Act as amended by the National Forest Management Act’ and inserting ‘the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.)’.

SEC. 4. EFFECT.

Nothing in the amendments made by this Act establishes a legal preference for the holder of a ski area permit to provide activities and associated facilities authorized by section 3(c) of the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 497b(c)) (as amended by section 3).

Calendar No. 135

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 382

[Report No. 112-55]

A BILL

To amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
-BB-

-BB-

I broke all the rules, but somehow still became mo
Sep 6, 2001
4,254
28
Livin it up in the O.C.
So as I read it, there is nothing that says a ski resort will NOT have to do the same environmental reviews when building a new trail. Im no Lawyer though.
 
MinorThreat

MinorThreat

Turbo Monkey
Nov 15, 2005
1,630
41
Nine Mile Falls, WA
^^ That does not stop environmental groups. The fact that another use opens up previously-undisturbed ground inside the existing boudaries and in a different season is enough to set them off. Just ask operators at Mt. Spokane, Stevens Pass, etc., etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom