theses expansions. Some organizations like Environmental Liberation Front have gone so far as arson, burning down lodges in Vail, Colo. Although this gets the point across that development does have serious environmental impacts it does not help accomplish anything long term. The creation of NEPA(National Environmental Policy Act) in 1970 was a great tool for assessing the impacts of development on private land. This act has made many agencies go through the process of an Environmental Impact Statement which help to assess different options to the proposed development and also lets the public play a substantial role. The Environmental Impact Statements may take lots of time and money but all environmental issues are addressed. The problem is NEPA does not effect private lands and causes no private land owners to consider environmental impacts. The way to begin to curb this development would to have some sort of NEPA type act that could apply to private landowners. Something that would maybe tax a private landowner who sells out to a corporation for development, or maybe a permitting system that would only allow so much development to happen on private lands as recreational areas are created. In my personal view anything that would help private landowner's think twice before selling their land would be a start.There has been some recent happenings that have helped the ski industry become more friendly environmentally. In June 2000 the "National Ski Areas Association announced the completion of an Environmental Charter that holds participating ski areas to a broad set of voluntary principles for protection of the alpine areas in which they operate."(http://www.clf.org/hot/20000614.htm) This is also known as the sustainable slopes program and I believe it's giant step forward for the industry to start to look at the other effects they have as they expand besides those that are taking place on just the mountain. This charter is the work of ...
