[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8296-S8297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    COMMENDING JACKSON HOLE SKI AREA

  Mr. THOMAS. Madam President, I would like to take a minute to commend 
the Jackson Hole ski area in my State of Wyoming. Recently this ski 
area received the prestigious Golden Eagle Award, sponsored by the 
Skiing Co. which is part of Times Mirror Magazines and publisher of 
Ski, Skiing, and TransWorld Snowboarding magazines. The Golden Eagle 
Award was established by the Skiing Co. and Times Mirror to recognize 
exceptional environmental excellence in ski area management by North 
American ski areas. It was presented at the annual meeting of the 
National Ski Areas Association in Palm Springs, CA, last month.
  The Jackson Hole Ski Corp. won the top award for overall 
environmental excellence. The resort was commended by a panel of judges 
for downsizing its mountain master plan by a third, in order to provide 
a better ski experience [[Page S8297]] while adhering to environmental 
values. It was also recognized for its vehicle maintenance shop 
management program, for a sensitive revegetation plan, an aggressive 
recycling program, and for establishing a land trust to preserve the 
resort's scenic and natural character. Three years ago, at a series of 
training seminars, employees of Jackson Hole Ski Corp. chose ``Respect 
for the Environment'' as their highest corporate value. Jim Gill, vice 
president of the area, believes that economic growth and environmental 
protection can complement each other, because most resort guests 
consider themselves environmentalists who enjoy the outdoors and 
appreciate its natural beauty. According to Francis Pandolfi, president 
and CEO of Times Mirror Magazines and who presented the award,

       Our judges called Jackson Hole's initiative very broad-
     based and far-reaching--from its downsizing of the mountain 
     to its outreach programs, its educational accomplishments and 
     the preservation of the area's character through its land 
     trust. The area has done superb environmental work on 
     virtually every front.

  In addition to Jackson Hole, five other ski areas won Silver Eagle 
Awards for environmental excellence in the following categories:
  Snowbird, UT, for water conservation and wastewater management;
  Heavenly, CA, for fish and wildlife habitat protection;
  Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA, for environmental education;
  Winter Park, CO, for community outreach; and
  Beaver Creek, CO, for area design.
  Madam President, too often we only hear from critics about how ski 
areas destroy the wilderness. Skiing is a wonderful sport which 
millions of people from around the world enjoy, and the Golden Eagle 
Award program confirms what we all know; that it can coexist with 
environmental protection of the highest degree. Industry surveys show 
that skiers are very environmentally aware and involved, and that any 
perception of skiing as being antienvironmental exists only in the 
minds of a few. These success stories not only educate the American 
public about what a good job many ski areas are doing to conserve and 
protect the environment, but they also serve as excellent examples for 
other ski areas to emulate.
  Congratulations to Jackson Hole Ski Corp. and to all the other 
winners.


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