Rocky Mountain Region Crested Butte Ski Area Expansion, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest, Gunnison County, CO

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The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to upgrade and expand the Crested Butte Ski Area. The proposal includes constructing new North Face and Third Bowl lifts and runs, constructing a restaurant at the top of the Silver Queen lift, and the development of Crested Butte North on Snodgrass Mountain. All proposed developments on National Forest System lands have been allocated to ski area use in the Forest Plan. That decision will not be reconsidered in the EIS, unless an effect on some significant resource which cannot be mitigated is discovered through this analysis. The ski area operates under a special-use permit granted to the Crested Butte Ski Area, Inc. The proposal would increase the Crested Butte Mountain capacity by approximately 20%. The Crested Butte North ski area expansion may lead to the development of North Village on private land at the Base of Snodgrass Mountain. The expansion proposal will help maintain Crested Butte's standing as a world class resort by enhancing skier capacity and the quality of the Crested Butte skiing experience.