Court-ordered halt lifted: Ski lift dispute settled with environmental protections

Environmental groups and the operators of the Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal (OK) Bergbahnen ski lift company have settled a legal dispute concerning the construction of a new chairlift in the Allgäu region. The resolution allows for the Scheidtobelbahn lift at Fellhorn near Oberstdorf to proceed with construction and aims to be operational by the upcoming winter season.

The agreement mandates additional protective measures for endangered species within the affected area. A significant component of the settlement involves designating approximately 2.4 hectares as a protected zone, off-limits to winter sports enthusiasts, specifically to safeguard the black grouse. Further measures include the development of a five-year plan to protect the Alpen-Mosaikjungfer, a threatened dragonfly species, and the creation of water sources to aid rare alpine species.

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The agreement means that the LBV does not retrospectively agree to all interventions. Our fundamental professional concerns are justified.

This compromise follows a temporary injunction by the Administrative Court of Augsburg, which had halted the lift's construction. The ski lift operator had committed to conducting an environmental impact assessment, a step initially omitted under Bavaria's controversial modernization law, which aims to streamline bureaucratic processes for certain construction projects.

Helmut Beran, managing director of the Bavarian branch of the Nature Conservation Union (LBV), stated that the agreement does not signify full approval of all interventions but ensures greater protection for wildlife. Andreas Gapp, managing director of OK Bergbahnen, acknowledged the additional costs but emphasized that the settlement ends a dispute that would have delayed construction, ultimately serving both the region and nature conservation efforts.

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On the other hand, we are ending a dispute that would have prevented the completion of the construction work, at least for this season. Overall, this solution serves the region and nature conservation.