[NMCycling] Sandia Ski Area Roller Coaster Publc Comment

Wed Sep 9 14:14:07 MDT 2020

All valid points about habitats, nature, and overuse by people, etc.  I
would assume that the ski area's operational permit with the USFS would
have to be amended, thereby triggering a reassessment of the land use.  In
turn, that presumably requires a new EA/BA and public comment period toward
the goal of achieving a "FONSI" (finding of no significant impact).  This
will not go quietly in the dark of night, and there are a lot of steps
along the path of being a permitted land use.  It is not a permitted
function yet under Sandia's operational permit.  I suggest that everyone
who is against this to write into and engage with the Cibola National
Forest (Sandia Ranger District) with your concerns and know what the public
process is for application, review, and approval.

And from Benjamin Ubayyed's comment: "Third, yes, there is a ski lift
structure built as it is obviously a ski area, which I consider a
carbon-neutral, natural activity."
Umm, here in the SW area of the USA do not produce carbon-free
electricity.  Alpine skiing chairlifts (old Sandia Peak Riblet ones in
particular) operate on 100+ HP, 480V electric motors, from power generated
by natural gas and coal fired steam turbines.  Only a very small portion
comes from carbon-free sources around here.

On Wed, Sep 9, 2020 at 1:26 PM Benjamin Ubayyed via Bike-racers <
bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

>   First of all I am not attacking a family per se but I am saying that
> profiting off public land is wrong.  And it sets the precedent that if you
> develop one area, why not another,  Secondly, development is precisely what
> has brought us to this point in world history where there are rampant
> wildfires and other extreme weather conditions due to man-made climate
> change (just look at the weather over the last 72 hours here). We need to
> think of outdoor wild-life habitats not as a commodity to develop but ones
> to preserve.  I don't know if you've noticed all of the out-of-state
> licence plates from people trying to flee Covid hot-spots, they are coming
> here and buying properties and soon this place will be like California.
> What makes New Mexico special is that it is an amazingly beautiful and
> largely preserved geography. Why anyone would want to upend that is foreign
> to me.  Third, yes, there is a ski lift structure built as it is
> obviously a ski area, which I consider a carbon-neutral, natural activity.
> Building a mountain coaster will be far more invasive and hideos to look
> at.  Deer and other wildlife will absolutely stay away.  The ski area is
> the one place where I am consistently able to ride among deer and I would hate
> to see that go.  Moreover if anyone believes that vacationers will decide
> to come to NM to ride a mountain coaster are mistaken.  What brings people
> here are unspoiled natural lands.  We need to protect that.
>
> On Wed, Sep 9, 2020 at 1:10 PM Aaro Heinonen via Bike-racers <
> bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
>
>> Counterpoint:
>>
>> I have worked at Purgatory resort in July for most of the past 11
>> summers.  Development and tourism have bred more development and tourism
>> and sadly, traffic.  11 years ago I would ride from Durango to Silverton,
>> or even Ouray, but not today.  Once past Purgatory resort the constant
>> stream of traffic in both directions and narrow roads make it a less than
>> wonderful experience. 11 summers ago I would carry bear spray on my 6 am
>> runs from the resort.  Now, I just have to be mindful of the constant
>> traffic: campers, motor homes, construction trucks and commuters traveling
>> to Silverton or Durango.
>> I can't see the benefit to cyclists of even more development and tourism
>> to the area.  Four years ago I encountered a bear at the four mile marker
>> while riding solo up to the Crest.  It would be nice to continue to have
>> those experiences.  I think I already encounter enough vehicular traffic.
>>
>> Aaro Paavo Heinonen
>>
>> On Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 11:39:42 AM MDT, powergwa--- via
>> Bike-racers <bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Counterpoints: The mountain coaster at Purgatory / DMR is completely
>> compatible with skiing and cycling and provides an income stream to the
>> area in the off season. This provides pay to employees and funds for
>> mountain maintainence and improvements. The winter-serving equipment at
>> Sandia Peak, as a designated recreation area, could use significant
>> upgrades. Having worked/volunteered at multiple ski areas, I have witnessed
>> them to be rational environmental stewards, and compromising entities on
>> multi-use issues. Several of the owners of Sandia Peak are excellent
>> cyclists and supportive of the sport.
>>
>> Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque is irrelevant with respect to this
>> project. Your statements on destroying the 10k et. al trails are not true;
>> this is from the environmental Q&A that you referenced:
>>
>>
>>
>>    - 4 to 5 switchbacks of the Golden Eagle mountain bike trail would be
>>    rerouted to accommodate the coaster.
>>
>>
>>    - The coaster would not affect the 10K Trail, King of the Mountain
>>    Trail or South Crest Trail.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Benjamin Ubayyed via Bike-racers <bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com>
>> To: NM Bike Racers <bike-racers at swcp.com>
>> Sent: Tue, Sep 8, 2020 10:20 pm
>> Subject: [NMCycling] Sandia Ski Area Roller Coaster Publc Comment
>>
>> Hey Folks.
>>
>> I can't believe that we are revisiting this stupid project but the
>> forrest service is asking for comments regarding a roller coaster that a
>> private interest wants to build in federal/public land up at Sandia skia
>> area. This would probably destroy the 10k and Golden Eagle trails and even
>> if not it would render them useless due to conflicting seasonal usage. To
>> my way of thinking, in a time of climate change and rampant forest fires,
>> we need to conserve rather than develop public lands. Besides we already
>> have a roller coaster in town. Anyway I hope you will feel similarly and
>> are willing to make such a comment at the forest service website, which we
>> are able to do through December. Here is the link:
>> https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput
>> <https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=56985&fbclid=IwAR37g-qsYB1be3Po9qILfMP0w7D1yrkYUm0FANg5iqiqkkNoTPwktRefFEE>
>>
>> --
>> *~Benjamin Ubayyed*
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> *~Benjamin Ubayyed*
>
>
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