[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7144-7145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 WHITE PASS SKI AREA EXPANSION PROJECT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. NORMAN D. DICKS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2007

  Mr. DICKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue that has 
occurred in my State over the past 23 years.
  The White Pass Ski Area is located in the Cascade Mountain Range in 
the Gifford Pinchot and Wenatchee National Forests. White Pass is 
renowned as one of the best small ski areas in the Pacific Northwest 
and offers particular appeal to families. The area, which provides 
critical tourism revenue to the surrounding rural communities on both 
sides of the mountain range, is now looking to expand to provide 
greater opportunities to skiers in the Pacific Northwest.
  Over two decades ago, we succeeded in passing through Congress the 
Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984. This legislation added over 
23,000 acres of land to the Goat

[[Page 7145]]

Rocks Wilderness Area and removed from wilderness designation 800 acres 
adjacent to the White Pass Ski Area as having ``significant potential 
for ski development'' and urging the Secretary of Agriculture to 
``utilize this potential, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and 
regulations.''
  The Gifford Pinchot National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 
allocated the 800-acre area that Congress had withdrawn from the 
Wilderness Area back in 1984 to Developed Recreation in recognition of 
the intent of Congress. However, the LRMP concurrently inventoried as 
roadless the same 800-acre area. The conflicting, confusing and 
uncertain status of the subject lands needs addressing, which is why I 
rise today.
  I can say from first-hand experience that, at the time we passed the 
aforementioned Washington Wilderness Act of 1984, it was congressional 
intent to permit expansion of the White Pass Ski Area. I would like to 
submit for the record a letter signed by the 1984 congressional 
delegation stating that it was our intent to provide for the expansion 
of White Pass Ski Area. In a February 3, 2004 letter, the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture also confirmed this congressional intent, 
stating: ``We agree that the intent of Congress was clearly to allow 
for ski area development in the Hogback Basin.'' In addition, 
Congressman Baird, who represents the district where White Pass is 
located, submitted for the Record on January 31, 2007 a statement 
urging clarification and action on this Issue.
  The Fiscal Year 2007 Interior Appropriations Bill that passed the 
House in May of last year included important information clarifying 
congressional intent to permit expansion of White Pass Ski Area. The 
language stated:

       The Committee notes that the Washington State Wilderness 
     Act of 1984 removed from wilderness designation 800 acres of 
     land adjacent to the White Pass Ski Area in Washington State 
     for potential ski development. The Committee notes that the 
     Gifford Pinchot National Forest Land and Resource Management 
     Plan allocated the 800-acre area as Developed Recreation to 
     allow for ski area expansion, while concurrently inventorying 
     the same land as roadless to reflect its current physical 
     character. The Committee recognizes that it was the intent of 
     Congress to permit ski area expansion into this 800-acre area 
     and urges the Secretary of Agriculture, once the 
     Environmental Impact Statement for the White Pass Ski Area's 
     Master Development Plan is properly completed, to move 
     forward expeditiously in approving the expansion plans in 
     accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

  Unfortunately, the FY07 Continuing Resolution did not include any 
report language; therefore the language clarifying congressional intent 
that passed this body last summer was not included in the CR.
  I wanted to bring this issue to the attention of my colleagues and 
highlight the fact that the House Appropriations Committee was prepared 
and willing to clarify congressional intent, and that the full House 
approved that clarification by voting for the fiscal year 2007 Interior 
Appropriations Bill in May. In keeping with this, I urge the Secretary 
of Agriculture to move forward expeditiously in approving the expansion 
plans in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations--
once the Environmental Impact Statement is properly completed.

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