If you ski in the Stevens Peak area or other backcountry terrain off of Lookout Pass this is an important opportunity to speak up to protect your experience.
The comment deadline has been extended until May 10, 2016
The Idaho Panhandle and Lolo National Forests are currently seeking comments on a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for proposed expansion of Lookout Pass Ski Area. Normally, we don’t oppose new lift-served skiing as a matter of course, but this DEIS has serious problems. The DEIS dismisses all the concerns that have been brought up by Winter Wildlands Alliance, Inland Northwest Backcountry Alliance, and Montana Backcountry Alliance in the past. Instead, the Forest Service states that impacts to backcountry and Nordic skiing in the Saint Regis basin and any winter recreation conflicts caused by the ski area expansion are outside the scope of the analysis.
We believe the Forest Service needs to address the following concerns before approving an expansion of the ski area:
- Loss of accessible winter backcountry areas in St. Regis Basin within the proposed expansion area
- Increased winter motorized use in the proposed Stevens Peak Backcountry Area and the south side of the St. Regis River due to displacement by off-piste skiers and riders
- Avalanche safety concerns stemming from increased numbers of sidecountry skiers
- Failure to address Lookout’s future expansion plans in the St. Regis Basin and the proposed Stevens Peak Backcountry Area
We need your help to get our message across. You can submit your comments online here. Let the Forest Service know that you recreate on Lookout Pass too, and that the ski area expansion will impact your experience.
The Forest Service has proposed three alternatives for the expansion – two basically identical options which would allow all the expansion Lookout is seeking, and a no-action alternative. Because the Forest Service hasn’t addressed impacts to backcountry recreation, we are arguing for the no-action alternative. In addition, we would like the Forest Service to prioritize a comprehensive winter management plan for the St. Regis basin and Stevens Peak Backcountry Area. Doing so would help the agency to find a balance between all types of winter recreation uses on Lookout Pass.
The comment period for the proposed expansion ends April 25 May 10, 2016. Please be as specific as possible. Comments can be submitted online here or by sending an email to: comments-northern-idpanhandle-coeur-dalene@fs.fed.us. If you send an email the Forest Service requests that you include your name, address, phone number, the title of the DEIS (Lookout Pass Ski Area Expansion), and specific facts or comments regarding the proposed activity, along with supporting reasons.
Again, we believe the Forest Service should either adopt the “no action” alternative or address the following concerns in their final EIS:
- Loss of accessible winter backcountry areas in St. Regis Basin within the proposed expansion area
- Increased winter motorized use in the proposed Stevens Peak Backcountry Area and the south side of the St. Regis River due to displacement by off-piste skiers and riders
- Avalanche safety concerns stemming from increased numbers of sidecountry skiers
- Failure to address Lookout’s future expansion plans in the St. Regis Basin and the proposed Stevens Peak Backcountry Area
