RUIDOSO, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXIC088345 MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1981 to EXPAND· SK' AREA • Rl E·See Tit E
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
-l~'.-.I'".r.': "'·::,,7·"'- . ~ '1,1' :'.,... ,~.". ' ..' ... :'·"!·~:/'-7r· :",.~.) . '. .. ... , ',.'.... "-'. .. .. .'" " .":', .' .'.' Southwest 11io~ofilm ., 2601 E. YN'ittsll . ~ : Box 100$4 . ~~,, , i . :.,J .Cau;. I T.x. ""'1;;'191. , I 25cPERCOPY , '.' The : . NO.66INOUR36TH YEAR RUIDOSO, LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXIC088345 MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1981 TO EXPAND· SK' AREA • rl e·see tit e BY TIM PALMER District Ranger Paul Gordon cited of its material, the unreleased BIA draft financing) ... This is a cover up for the Staff Writer SBSR's excellent record of revegetation of EIS mf(kes a strong case ror expansion of primary p,urpo~e· of acquiring the iand. ski slopes in expressing confidence that the ski area. No doubt the new draft Ihe This becomes just annther land grab." SBSR can be expanded wilhouf causing BIA is preparing now will also present Special use permits ror ski areas on Na Allhough unsuccessful at having the tional Forestlands have been thesource of Sierra Blanca Ski Resort (SBSR) lands water problems downstream. Planting clear evidence of the need ror expansion. grass on newly developed slopes prevents The queslion althis point is whether the financing difficulties for other ski areas. transferred from United Slates Forest Ser· however. Ernie Blake of Taos Ski Valley vice administration in 1976. the Mescalero erosion from surrace now of runoff. MAT will succeed in this thivd attempt to said that the permits are a "generally ac Apache Tribe (MAT) was alread)' prepar The Dames & Moore EAR makes a have the SBSR lands transferred oul"of the cepted handicap" for ski areas on National ing a third attempt to eventually gain tille strong case for expansion 'If SBSR. The NalionalForest, and whether the Tribe document is very thorough in examining will be willing or able to expand the ski Forestlands. to 2,240 acres that are now part of Lineoln The standard permit is "so c1auseulated National Forest. all areas that would be affected by area If It does not suc.ceed. expansion-·from air quality to Both the Dames & Moore report and the you can't bank on it," said Blake. socioeconomic factors such as motel oc unreleased BIA draft cQntain statements Cal Conniff, executive director of the Na· 700 This includes the niore than acres cup~ncy. that indicate there will be no expansion tional Ski Areas Association, was asked if presently occupied by the ski area, plus Another document addressing SBSH ex· without a land transfer. the permits pose a problem. the territory .into which SBSR has been pansion was 'completed in the late 19708. The former states that "the MAT does "It does make it difficult·-yes." he said. planning to expand for more than_l0 years. This was a drart environmental impact not propose to develop new ski facilities Conniff noted thal his organiz.ation is cur· statement lEIS) prepared by the Bureau without obtaining lille to the land." andthe rently working 10 have the lenglh of the In October nf t976, federal legislation of Indian Affairs (81Al. latter notes "the Tribe's intention to make ~rmils extended "so they will bet'ome prohibiting Presidential transfer of more This report noles "the preparation by the projected expansion conlingent upon more bankable,". than 500 acres of National Forest land the Department of lhe Interior of legisla its gaining tille to the land." Conniff cited Iwo ski areas (hat have had without Congressional approval became tion effecting a transfer of a·tract of moun Evidently the Forest Service believes difficulty in financing their development law. The same month, Ihe MAT contracted tainous New Mexico land from the ad that the MAT will expand SBSR even if the projects-Mourit Alyeska in Alaska and the firm of Dames & Moore to prepare an ministrative controlo! the United Slates Tribe does not succeed in its erfort to Heavenly Valley in California. environmental analysis report (EAR) ad Forest Service to the Bureau of Land remove the land from Lincoln National When informed of the proposed transfer dressing "Proposed Land Transfer and Management (BLM l." It states that the Forest. The Forest Service is incor of SBSR lands from the National Forest. Expansion." . tract would then be I~ased to the MAT porating its own plan for expansion into Conniff said. "I can't see any advantages • under the fede'ral Hecrealion and Public the National Forest Land Management whatsoever for that operation to go that ICE IS SCULPTED onto grass at the side of a babbling brook. This report, which was completed in Purposes Act. Plan, scheduled for completion in January roule." He noted that the record of pro June of 1978. contains a description of the Under the act. the MAT could eventually of 1983. fitability ofSIISR and the excellent reputa physical and biological environment of the be granted tille in trust to the land. Stanley Stroup of the Forest service tion of manager Roy Parker are factors in Fire Prevention Officer ski area lands. It addresses climate, air The draft EIS was completed in un9. but noted that the MAT requested Forest Ser favor of the MAT as it seeks expansion quality, geology. seismicity, soils, vegeta· it was never released to the public. vice approval of the SBSR expansion plans financing. lion and wildlife. Reasons were inconsistencies in lhe docu~ several years ago. His agency takes this to "We see the Forest Service in recent ment (which were duly noted by the Foresl mean the Tribe would be willing to expand years as being extremely cooperative," urges care in fireplace use The EAR noles that the siteIs located in Conniff said. He added that the agency is Service in its review I and a change in the SBSR under Forest Service jurisdiction, the headwater regions or three water· in the process of rewriting its manual per· sheds: Rio Bonito, Rio Ruidoso and Eagle regulations ror pr.eparing such reports, ac he said. ( Editor's Note: The following article on the fire prevention officer to insure that it It has becn the contention of the MAT taining to permillees and that it is hoped has aU necessary linings and clearances. Creek. Less than one percent of the total cording to Bill Allen of the Albuquerque fireplace safety was prepared by village BIA office. since il rirst started trying for a land the length of the per",its will be extcnded fire prevention officer-Ollie Cuddy.) - Never use gasoline or other flammable area or each watershed lies within the 3.5 to facilitate ski area financing. square miles that comprise the site, 'Allen is currently working on a revised transrer in 1971 thal the 3O-year special use Increased costs of other heating fuels liqUids to kindle or rekindle a fire because The Forest Service does not oppose ex however. EIS and expects to complete it by June of permit from the Fi"orest Service has made have led to Increased use of wood burning the flammable vapors can explode. Never 1982. He said that the statement will ad il difricull to oblain financing for the pro~ pansion of SBSH. It does. however, oppose use such liquids near a fire; explosive fireplaces. With the onset of cotd weather, Although concern has been raised about dress the twi n issues of whether SBSR posed expansion. transfer of the ski area lands from the Lin now is a good time to remember good safe vapors can travel the length of a room, possible adverse impacts on water quaJil)' The Foresl Service has never boughllhis coln National Forest. - Always keep the damper open while should be cxpanded. and under whose ty habits for fireplaces. and quantity resulting from SBSR expan· jurisdiction (Foresl Service or BLM I this argument, however. A commenl from the The reasons for this position. and a sum· An estimated 6.000 persons are treated the fuel is burning to provide for efficient sion, the local Ranger District of thl! could best be accomplished. Forest Supervisor's office on the 1979 BIA mary of other ractors involved in the pro combustion and to prevent the~accumula each year for injuries associated with Forest Servicc feels Ihalthis would not be Like the Dames & Moore environmental environmental statemenl reads: .'This is a posed expansion. will be dealt with in the tion or poisonous or explosive gases. rll"eplaces. Most of these injuries are cuts a problem. analysis reporl. from which it drew much raise assumption (that they cannot get next article in lhis series and bruises caused by handling wood, -- Do not burn coaI, charcoal or irons and other equipment. polystyrene packaging in a fireplace But the most serious injuries are burns, unless it is very well ventilated. and most of tbe victims are children. - Do not use artificial logs, which are Villav;es' Typical -accident-·-pattems involving made from sawdust ond wax. in the same firepiaces include: way as real logs. Use only one at a lime-if Benefit dance planned - ignition of ctothing from open flames. you use more, they can produce too much - ignition of flammable material by fly- heat for some fireplaces to withstand. trustees ing sparks. - Always use a screen that completely - use of flammable IIqutds to kindle or covers tbe fireplace opening to keep rekindle a fire sparks from flying out. Do not put com to meet - carbon monoxide poisoning caused by bustlble materials such as carpets or fur The Ruidoso Downs Trustees will meel for Special Olympics inadequate ventilation. niture near a fireplace. tonight at 7 p.m.. at the Municipal Hall - Keep children a way from the fire Agenda Hems include: BY JEAN PATTERSON "11 is open to any developmentally disabl struction for tbe participants.