Elk Ridge, Arizona: Forest Service Seeks Public Comments

The Kaibab National Forest is now accepting comments on an Environmental Assessment(EA) that has been prepared to analyze the potential effects to Forest resources for issuing a winter resort special use permit for the Elk Ridge Ski Area. The Kaibab National Forest proposes to issuethe Elk Ridge Ski Area permit to the new owners, Mountain Capital Partners, under the existing terms and conditions for the current permit. This permit would be issued using the current Master Development Plan.Theoperation would be limited to the use,repair or replacement, and maintenance of the existing infrastructure. No new construction or expansion would be authorized under this proposed action.

Elk Ridge Ski Area, formerly known as Williams Ski Area before being purchased in 2005 by Fountain Outdoor Recreation Corporation. Although the area is the smallest of the four ski areas in Arizona, it has 37 skiable acres for skiing, snowboarding for those of differing abilities. Elk Ridge considers itself a family mountain both with its employees and with their customers. In addition, the varied terrain of this resort offers year-round tubing. The resort is located 30 miles west of Flagstaff, Arizona, in the town of Williams, Arizona, the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon."

The EA, along with other information about the project, is available for review online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/proiectl?pr0iect=56909