[size=85:2esslvjo]novinite 15 July 2010

Bulgarian Eco Ministry Makes U-Turn on Ski Lift Project

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Environment has annulled their June decision to allow the “Yulen” company to build a new ski lift in the country’s top winter resort of Bansko.

The information was announced Thursday by the Deputy Environment Minister, Evdokiya Maneva, just days after Bulgarian environmentalists alerted the company is violating the permit by carring out mass felling of trees.

At the end of June, Eco Minister, Nona Karadzhova, gave “Yulen” permission to replace the 4-seat cabin lift with a 6-seat one without environmental effect assessment on the grounds the company will only replace the old equipment with a new one without enlarging the lift area and cutting down trees.

The Ministry’s probe, conducted just two days ago, however, showed at least 25 trees have already been cut, for which Bulgaria might be subjected to a penalty procedure by the European Commission, Maneva says, adding “Yulen” have been extremely dishonest and cunning.

The company’s management denies ever receiving the latest decision, but Maneva confirmed it and explained it was mailed, but it maybe did not yet reach “Yulen.”

The decision can be appealed before the Supreme Administrative Court.

The Ministry further says they will fine the company with the maximum BGN 2 000 and will halt its other 4 smaller projects in the area.

The “Yulen” request for a new lift was based on Bulgaria’s upcoming hosting of the World Men Ski Cup and it became clear they have already ordered the new lift before even obtaining the June permit from the Ministry.

Anyone aware if there have been any developments regarding the ski lift project?

Here's the latest August 29, 2010

Bulgarian Eco Ministry Checks Bansko Ski Resort for Violations

he Bulgarian Ministry of Environment has staged a check about whether the territory on which the Yulen company operates ski tracks above Bansko is not larger than the one officially allowed.

The announcement made by Minister of Environment Nona Karadzhova for Bulgarian daily Dnevnik, comes after citizens raised alarm on a satellite picture by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, showing that Yulen actually operates on a territory larger than the one given to it according to the concession by the state.

The ministry has now announced that it has hired a private company to shoot and measure the area of the Bansko Ski Zone. The check will be ready by the end of September.

The Ministry of Environment has nevertheless permitted Yulen to conduct – without environmental impact assessment – reconstruction work on a ski lift, arguing that the track undoubtedly falls within the area of concession. Environmental activists have disagreed with that.

Yulen, which operates the ski facilities in Bulgaria’s largest ski resort Bansko, has a long history of raising environmental controversy.

In mid-July the eco ministry stopped, after initially giving green light, to a similar ski lift repair that was intended to raise the capacity of another lift above Bansko. In that case, it was determined that Yulen was cutting down trees without being permitted to.

Bansko Ski Area is located on the borders and within the Pirin National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

thanks for the info

Bansko seems to be have its problems developing which I think it needs to do in order to compete with other ski resorts in the EU.

I have skied in a lot of different resorts mainly in the Alps ,and i cannot remember having to wait so long to get onto the mountain (even the worst ones) for as long as i did in Bansko . Yes it was over the new year period and once we had got up the mountain on the first lift it got better.
I fear that with all of the building work going on and without the second main lift, it will either become a joke trying to get up the mountain or a lot of the apartments will remain unsold.
A lot of the apartments are being built in the area where the second ski lift is planned to go, and if this does not happen its a fair walk to the existing lift,(yes most complexes have a transfer mini bus) and then you would have a hell of a wait once you got there.
As a side issue i would just like to say that although the skiing is a bit limited, the area itself is very nice especially the old part of the town.