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The Public Affairs portfolio of programs is designedto present the positions of the FWSA to theoutside world. As “The Voice of the Western Skier”,FWSA has been very active in a whole host of areasthat affect ski area development, safety, volunteer liability,transportation, taxation, ski history, and consumeradvocacy. Topics such as airline luggage rules,reduced prices for season passes, news about skicountry direct flights and the ever-increasing tendencyof areas to develop along the lines of the Europeanski village environment are of interest to ourmembership. Also, we attempt to better educate ourmembers in areas such as the impact of changing demographicsand the need for increased diversity,snowsports industry efforts like the Model for Growthto address trial and retention, regulatory efforts tomodernize state ski laws similar to the Coloradomodel, expanding snowmaking capabilities, developmentof e-commerce in the snowsports industry, resortdevelopments focused on consumer tendencies,the analysis paralysis forced on the Forest Service inresort development, and the need to meet a visitingfamily’s variation in ages and interests.In summary, the width and breath of theFWSA Public Affairs program is significant and theFWSA is committed to do its part in communicatingissues and educating membership on the wide andinteresting variety of Public Affairs topics. Of mostsignificant importance over the last year has beenour involvement in area development, consumer advocacy,safety, transportation and history.We strongly encourage you to get involvednow in the issues that affect you by writing letters/emailsto appropriate government officials, newspapereditors, and other key influencers, attending publicmeetings, and sharing your views with others in awide variety of situations including on the chairlift.To stay informed about relevant issues visitwww.fwsa.org and subscribe to the no-cost Far WestNews Flash (monthly electronic newsletter).The most prominent topic in Public Affairs isarea development, which covers ski area expansionand enhancement, proposed new areas, and thepreservation of potential areas for future skiing orrecreational use. Action in this arena affects allsnowsports enthusiasts; has long-term implications;requires unified regional action; involves the ski industrywith us; and can be exasperatingly tediousand drawn-out, as well as very costly. Generally, theAssociation must deal with county, city and evenstate governments, the US Forest Service, communityorganizations, area operators or permittees, andan ever-changing spectrum of organizations interestedin protection of the environment.The Council on Environmental Quality hasbeen working to modify the National EnvironmentalPolicy Act (NEPA) as appropriate to reduce processgridlock. To further improve the expensive and timeconsuming NEPA, the National Ski Areas Association(NSAA) has suggested categorical exclusions forcertain on-mountain activities such as lift replacementsfollowing the same alignment, additionalsnowmaking on trails that are already treated withman-made snow and use of existing service roadsand trails for new uses like mountain biking.We maintain an active network of “issuewatchers” in strategic areas of the western states.There are currently several expansion issues we arekeeping close watch on such as the Arizona Snowbowl;Eldora Mountain, CO; Homewood Mountain, CA;Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort, NV; Mt Spokane,WA; Snowbird, UT as well as logging issues such asForests with a Future. We have been aggressively involvedin letter writing campaigns to ensure “TheVoice of the Western Skier” is heard as an even handedproponent for rational development.In addition to specific expansion issues, we arestrong supporters of responsible resort managementand have endorsed the NSAA “Environmental Charter”and the “Sustainable Slopes” initiative.■ Keep Winter Cool, a joint effort of NRDC (NaturalResources Defense Council) and NSAA (NationalSki Areas Association) launched in 2003,continued its 10th season as part of the NSAA SustainableSlopes initiative. Examples of this initiativeare that 88% have some sort of conservation initiativein place, 38% purchase green power for their operations,33% are using some sort of renewableenergy on-site, and 12% offer guests renewable energyoffsets.www.keepwintercool.orgwww.nsaa.org/nsaa/environment/sustainable_slopes/ssar-10.pdf■ The NSAA Environmental Charter is currentlyendorsed by more than 190 U.S. resorts representingover 75% of skier visits plus partneringorganizations and participating organizations. TheA proposal hasbeen made to connectThe Canyons Resortin Park City, UT toSolitude MountainResort in BigCottonwood Canyon.Snowsportenthusiastsrelax at the SkiBeach Area.photo courtesy ofThe Canyons Resort /Justin Olsen,photographerPublic Affairs: 2012 Updateby Scott BowkerVice President - Public Affairs, FWSASustainable Slopes initiative was launched in 2001,thus 2012 marks its 12th anniversary.www.nsaa.org/nsaa/environment/sustainable_slopes/Area Development■ Western planned chairlift installations 2012.Alaska: Alyeska Resort – New #4 Express highspeed quad. California: Squaw Valley – Big BlueExpress high speed six, Links triple. Colorado: Vail– Vista Bahn Gondola. South Dakota: Terry Peak –Gold Corp Express high speed quad. Utah: DeerValley – Mountaineer Express high speed quad;Snowbird – Little Cloud high speed quad; Sundance –quad near Maverick ski run. Washington: 49 DegreesNorth – Angel Peak double. Wyoming: JacksonHole – Casper high speed quad. CANADA Alberta:Vista Ridge – Blue Chair quad. British Columbia:Bear Mountain Ski Hill – t-bar; Mt Seymour - MysteryPeak Express high speed quad.■ Ski Area Recreational Opportunity EnhancementAct: The Act was signed into law in November 2011,to allow seasonal or year-round natural resourcebasedrecreational activities that encourage outdoorrecreation and enjoyment of nature while harmonizingwith the natural environment, provided thatsuch activities are located within the developed portionof the ski resort. Activities expressly permittedinclude zip lines, mountain bike terrain parks andtrails, frisbee golf courses and ropes courses. Excludedactivities are tennis courts, water slides andwater parks, swimming pools, golf courses, andamusement parks. The Forest Service master developmentplan process and federal environmental reviewof project impacts are still required.■ Arizona Snowbowl: The 9th U.S. CircuitCourt of Appeals, San Francisco, California 3 memberpanel unanimously imposed sanctions for costs52 Far West Skier’s Guide 2O12 - 2O13 / See the Digital Edition of the Far West Skier’s Guide at www.fwsa.org.