Senator Udall Back with Bill to Enhance Ski Resort Summers

Even though the 2011-2012 ski season is just about to get underway, Senator Mark Udall is dreaming of summer mountain activities.  Senate Bill S.382 is working its way through Congress.  It amends a 25-year old law to help the National Forest Service streamline permitting for ropes courses, Frisbee golf, mountain bike trails, and zip lines on federal land located on and around ski resorts.

Streamlining the permitting process allows resorts more freedom to create attractions, and helps generate year-round jobs in mountain communities where seasonal work dries up during the summer.  It will also increase visitor count and help drive revenue throughout the year.

The article below by Ed Sealover of the Denver Business Journal outlines some different perspectives of this bill, and highlights the advantages of its approval not only for Colorado, but for other states that have recreational resorts around the nation.

UPDATE:  As of Tuesday October 18, 2010, Senate Bill S.382 was unanimously approved by Congress and is waiting for President Obama's Signature-Click here to read more!

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Udall back with bill to enhance ski-resort summers

Ed Sealover
Reporter - Denver Business Journal

Note: What you see below is an excerpt from the full article. Visit this link to read more!

Colorado ski resorts could build zip lines or advanced mountain biking trails on national forest land within their boundaries - and increase both their visitor totals and year-round employment - under a bill Congress is considering.

Senate Bill S.382, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., amends a 25-year-old federal law to make it easier for the U.S. Forest Service to permit uses other than Nordic and alpine skiing on federal lands.

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the bill — which has a Republican-sponsored companion measure in the House — on July 14.  Next is debate before the full Senate.

The 22 Colorado ski resorts that are partially or wholly located on federal land can obtain special permits to allow biking or other activities now — but the process can be lengthy.  The Forest Service must conduct environmental-impact studies on the use of bikes on the same land that’s skied upon throughout the winter.

Jeremy Fancher, policy analyst and in-house counsel for the Boulder-based International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), called that process “something of a duplication of effort.”

Udall argued that streamlining the permitting process not only would allow ski resorts more freedom to create attractions, but also could generate year-round jobs in many mountain communities where seasonal work dries up during the summer.

“Not just in Colorado is tourism a big economic driver, but in many other states that have big ski industries,” Udall said.  “It brings more job opportunities to rural communities, [and] it promotes healthy lifestyles and encourages people to enjoy the outdoors.”

Udall ran a similar bill in 2010 and passed it through both chambers before it died on the last day of the congressional session, when it was held up from getting a needed vote to amend it to align with the House version.

Response this year has been very positive, he said, noting bipartisan sponsorship in both chambers, largely from members who live in skiing-heavy states.

Every member of Colorado’s congressional delegation, except for Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn and Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter, is listed as a co-sponsor on either the House or Senate bill.

Major environmental groups haven’t opposed the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act.  They have instead suggested additions to the measure to discourage the construction of permanent structures, which could have adverse consequences on the vegetation and water supplies on forest land, said Steve Smith, assistant Colorado director for The Wilderness Society .  And they’ve been pleased by amendments to the bill that have addressed those concerns, he said.

S.382 lists activities that would get streamlined permitting, including ropes courses, Frisbee golf, mountain biking and zip lines.  It also lists activities that wouldn’t be permitted, including amusement parks, swimming pools, tennis courts, and golf courses.

Though Udall couldn’t cite any ski-area plans that would go forward in 2012 if the bill is approved, he said many resorts have indicated an interest in expanding their offerings.

‘It’s a very important bill’

Vail Resorts Inc. now operates the Breckenridge Fun Park — featuring a climbing wall, gondola rides, pony rides and 4x4 tours — on private land it owns at Breckenridge Ski Resort.  Beth Ganz, vice president of public affairs and sustainability for the Broomfield company, said that summertime additions to its other Colorado properties in Vail, Beaver Creek and Keystone probably would be different, but company leaders likely would take advantage of the law if it passes.

“It’s a very important bill,” Ganz said.  “It will create jobs.  It will increase tourism activities in Colorado.  It will enable us to provide more recreational opportunities at resorts……CONTINUED.