A new and potentially powerful player has just become part of the conversation over the future of the Mt. Sunapee Ski Resort. State officials now say the National Park Service has authority over significant changes at the park. In order for expansion plans to move forward, they must meet federal environmental, recreational and social standards. New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has more.
Up until now, the expansion of the Mt. Sunapee Ski resort has been a local discussion among state officials, the developers and nearby residents.
The addition of the federal government in the form of the National Park Service is due to the money that helped establish the park in the 1960's.
That money comes from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Alyson McLane is the Supervisor of Park Operations at the Department of Resources and Economic Development.
1:53 we are obligated under the guidelines under the Land and Water Conservation Act, those spell out a review, an environmental review, a cultural resources review, other agency reviews.
The state has already asked a number of state agencies, including the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Environmental Services to begin investigations of the park.
What has triggered this review is a plan to expand the ski resort by some 175 acres.
The company that operates the resort, Vermont-based Okemo, wants to expand their operation, and on private land adjacent to the park, develop condominiums, high-end housing and shops.
But before any of that happens, the state must submit an assessment to the National Parks Service.
McLane says NPS will be looking for any red flags.
6:16 some type of rare and endangered species, some type of natural community that is occurring, those are all things that have to be taken into consideration and would cause the NPS to react one way or another.
Tom Elliot is the executive director of Friends of Mt. Sunapee, a group opposed to the expansion.
He says there's no telling what the investigations of the 175 acres will reveal.
7:27 this is the least study piece of public land I've ever been involved with. None of the state agencies including DREAD have any clue what exists in Mt. Sunapee St. Park. There has never been a wildlife study. Botanical studies limited to state park...it's really an unknown zone.
In addition to the environmental impact in the state park, a key component of Elliot's argument is that the development could lead to massive, unwanted sprawl.
Elliot says Washington must look at that.
3:46 I expect, and we will be encouraging the federal government to look at this plan as it's been proposed, which is not just ski area expansion. It's about providing a major real estate development on the edge of a park.
Elliot's interest in development that takes place outside the park boundaries points to an area the federal government has considerable discretion.
Michael Wilson, head of the Land and Water Conservation Fund says his agency's main concern is the park, but it need not be limited to that.
:32 the footprint we generally look at is the park boundaries. However if there is a adjoining property that could somehow impact the park land, particularly if it could adversely impact public enjoyment of that park, we would be interested in that and what could be done to mitigate any negative impact.
Another factor Wilson says he will consider is how much public support or opposition there is for the project.
The state expects to send the Park Service a report sometime next year.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
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