Silverton Mtn. plays waiting game

One end is in sight for Silverton Mountain Ski Area. The steep, backcountry ski operation's last scheduled days of guided skiing are this weekend. Another end still appears to be out of reach. It's been six years since owner Aaron Brill first submitted a proposal to the Bureau of Land Management for unguided skiing on Silverton's Storm Peak. He's still awaiting final approval.

Brill first appealed to the Bureau of Land Management in 1999 to operate an expert backcountry skiing operation on 350 acres of his land and 1,300 acres of adjacent BLM land about 6 miles north of Silverton. In 2001, he installed a double chairlift on his personal property, an old mining claim, with visions of creating a powder skier's paradise with inexpensive lift tickets and a 475-skier cap.

However, the dream was put on hold when the BLM ordered an environmental impact statement to assess the full effects of the ski area. The final EIS rolled off the presses last summer and the final public comment period closed Sept. 6. The document would allow up to 475 unguided and guided skiers per day on as many as 1,300 acres of BLM land. Whether the entire area is open to unguided skiing would hinge on snow stability. At the time, Brill said he was relieved that the BLM would be issuing him a permit for a mix of guided and unguided skiing.

But as he looked to the end of his season this week, Silverton Mountain still had no permit in hand, and Brill was less than relieved.

"They're definitely getting closer, but we're not there yet," he said.

Richard Speegle, recreation project leader for the BLM, agreed that the agency and Brill are not quite there yet.

"All I can say is we're working on the Record of Decision and the nuts and bolts of that decision," he said.

However, Speegle said that a decision should be in place by this summer, giving Silverton Mountain time to prepare for unguided skiing in the 2005-06 season.

"Our goal is to have something in place so Aaron can move forward for next season," said Speegle. "We'll have something in place and give him plenty of time so he can hire people or do whatever he needs to do."

Brill said that he's not holding his breath, but that he still anticipates a mix of guided and unguided skiing at the area. "It's tough to predict the future, but it will hold unguided skiing options along with guided skiing options," he said. "How and when are still unknown. I wish I had those answers."

While he wishes he knew the answers, Brill is no longer looking in the crystal ball. He said that he's given up on trying to predict the BLM's next move.

"For the last several years, I've said I think we'll have it by spring. I'm going to stop saying that," he said. "I haven't done a very good job with my predictions."

In hindsight, Brill concluded that he is disappointed in the public lands permitting process. Noting that the costs to him have escalated out of control, he credited the process, in part, for destroying his dream of $25 lift tickets at Silverton Mountain.

"I've come to realize that the process is not a fast one," he said.

Hydraulic fracturing fight goes to top

A Durango-based conservation group, an Environmental Protection Agency whistle-blower and others took the fight against hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to the next level last week. They called on Congress and the EPA to protect drinking water from the widely used oil and gas drilling technique. It's estimated that 90 percent of the wells in La Plata County have been fracked, many more than once.

During a teleconference last week, the whistle-blower charged that the EPA has not sufficiently considered the risks of fracking. "The EPA has a responsibility to protect drinking water supplies from avoidable contamination," said Weston Wilson, a senior EPA engineer in Denver. "EPA has not provided ample evidence to prove that fracking does not affect drinking water supplies."

Fracking involves the injection of fluids into oil and gas wells at high pressure. The fluids break up rock formations that contain oil and gas, allowing the minerals to flow to the surface. The fluids sometimes include hazardous chemicals, some of which remain in the ground.

In a letter to Colorado's Congressional delegation last year, Wilson wrote that the EPA knew that fracturing fluids contained toxic components, suggesting that drinking water could be at risk.

The Durango-based Oil and Gas Accountability Project (OGAP), an industry watchdog group, also released a report during the teleconference, which it says catalogues the information EPA left out of its study. "EPA had information showing that numerous chemicals are injected at concentrations that threaten human health, but they chose to leave that information out of their final study," said Lisa Sumi, Research Director with OGAP. "EPA cannot pick and choose data that supports a politically driven conclusion."

Excel School taps new principal

The position of principal has flipped repeatedly at the Excel Charter School over the last few years. Now, the school board has promoted from within, and new principal Julé Skoglund reports that things are running smoothly at Excel.

Two years ago, the future of the 9-R School District's only remaining charter school hung in the balance. Administrators expressed concerns that the school's students were not up to district standards. However, Excel mobilized and has risen to the district mark. Now Skoglund hopes to bring more stability to the alternative school. Skoglund, a former lawyer, has taught sixth grade at Excel since 2002 and was appointed to the position of principal by the Excel Board of Directors at its March 24 meeting.

"I'm really thankful for the opportunity," Skoglund said. "Everything has been running very smoothly, and this will provide stability and maintain the same structure for the kids. I think I can do a very effective and efficient job. I learn a lot every day and have great mentors in the community." The Excel School began work on a new vision at the beginning of February and hopes to have a new vision and mission statement by the end of the school year.

"We really see ourselves as an alternative school," Skoglund said. "Our students are multi-sensory learners, and we put a great emphasis on hands-on activity. At the same time, we are still obligated to be accountable to our taxpayers by ensuring that they meet district and state standards. The school is going in a good direction."

City adds two hybrids to its fleet

The City of Durango continued its commitment to going green this week when two new hybrid-drive vehicles rolled into the city's fleet. The Toyota Prius will now be used by city code enforcement personnel, and incorporating gas and electric power, the cars get up to 60 miles to the gallon.

"The purchase of these vehicles is just one more step that we are taking to be part of the solution," said Durango City Councilor Virginia Castro. "Our air quality is one of our most valuable resources; anything that we can do to help preserve that quality is a good thing."

The decision to explore fossil fuel alternatives came long before gas prices are what they are today. In June of last year, the city introduced biodiesel into its fleet and now has more than 85 diesel vehicles that are running off an environmentally friendly fuel source. The hybrids represent a new step.

Roy Petersen, fleet and facilities manager, commented, "We are excited to include the hybrid vehicles in our fleet .. The city has made great strides in recent years and the technology is finally catching up to our fleet requirements."

County recommends flood insurance

With river waters continuing to rise, local officials are now urging some residents of La Plata County to consider flood insurance.

"Warmer temperatures and high snowpack mean spring run off is just around the corner, and for property owners in flood-prone areas, it's time to seriously consider flood insurance," said Butch Knowlton, director of the county Office of Emergency Management.

For flood-prone properties, Knowlton recommended the National Flood Insurance Program, whereby a homeowner can obtain up to $250,000 in flood insurance for his or her residence and up to $100,000 for its contents. A nonresidential property owner can insure contents up to $500,000.

For more information on the program, log onto www.floodsmart.gov.

- compiled by Will Sands

 

 

 


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