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County draws up comments for Forest Service review of Lift 1A replacement

Aspen Journalism

Pitkin County is drawing up comments for the Forest Service on a proposed replacement of Lift 1A on Aspen Mountain. 

The Pitkin County commissioners weighed in Tuesday on a proposal by the Aspen Skiing Company to replace and realign the aging chairlift. The Forest Service is reviewing the application, which lays out three possibilities: a high speed quad, a gondola or a telemix, which is a hybrid gondola and chairlift. Approval from the Forest Service is the first step in a long process. David Corbin with the SkiCo says it also needs approvals from the City and County.

"We initiated the federal process first because of the NEPA or environmental review timing and the need to get their field specialists on the ground before there was a lot of snow.”

The county’s comments are practical. Staff cited the need for permits and local reviews of parts of the project, like construction of towers for the lift and the removal of trees. Their comments are due at the end of the month.