A recent government report unearthed by environmentalists notes “substantial” evidence that rare Canada lynx live on land that the Vail ski resort in Colorado wants to use for a multimillion-dollar expansion. In a lawsuit now before a federal appeals court, environmentalists allege that the U.S. Forest Service approved Vail’s expansion plans without regard for the lynx; a decision in the case is expected by July 1. Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is set to decide by July 8 whether to officially list the Canada lynx as a threatened species. Last October, an arson-caused fire reportedly set “on behalf of the lynx” stalled construction on the Vail project. Vail has at least one big political connection: Vice Pres. Al Gore reportedly spent New Year’s Eve at the home of Vail CEO Adam Aron.
