November 30, 2000

Skiing green

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Winter blues for environmentalists often include the guilt that goes along with enjoying winter sports. Though skiing and snowboarding are fun, it is hard to ignore the toll ski resorts take on their surroundings. Keeping the fun of winter sports and their environmental impact in mind, the SKI AREA CITIZENS COALITION has taken it upon themselves to grade western ski resorts.

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Grading ski areas’ current policies on habitat protection and expansion, the coalition is able to steer environmentally conscious snow bunnies to spend their snow dollars at worthy slopes.

Topping the list were Sundance Resort in Utah and Timberline Ski Area in Oregon. Taking the prize of least environmentally friendly with a score of 19 percent (out of 100 percent) was Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado for it’s plans to dump fill into a wetland area, expand it’s skiable area, and construct housing at the base of the mountain.

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