JACKSON - U.S. Forest Service officials have agreed to reconsider a permit authorizing a helicopter skiing company to operate on public lands in northwest Wyoming.

Kniffy Hamilton, supervisor of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, withdrew a Nov. 8 decision allowing High Mountain Heli-Skiing to offer 1,200 skier days for backcountry skiing on the forest. A skier day is one individual skier during the course of the season.

Jay Anderson, forest spokesman, said the supervisor's decision was based on information in an appeal that "prompted Kniffy to do a greater investigation."

The Nov. 8 decision was appealed in December by several conservation groups, who said, in part, the agency failed to consider the impacts the activity would have on the Palisades wilderness study area.

"The deciding official has the prerogative to withdraw a decision prior to an appeal as a way to go back and verify the data and, honestly, save the taxpayers some dollars," Anderson said. "She thought there was some information worth reviewing."

The withdrawal decision, made late last week, now requires an interdisciplinary team to re-examine issues as directed by the supervisor, who will then reissue a decision. Anderson said that new decision will likely come sometime this year, before summer.

Tom Darin with the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance said Wednesday the groups feel helicopter skiing in the wilderness study area is not in keeping with preserving wilderness quality, as deemed in the Wilderness Act. He said historically, 99 percent of the company's flights and ski trips have taken place in the study area.

Still, Darin said the withdrawal of the decision now paves the way for conversations among the operator, interest groups and the Forest Service to find a solution that works for everyone.

"We're thinking we have an opportunity to sit down and look at areas that don't have wilderness qualities of that degree," he said. And within the study area, Darin said there may be ways for High Mountain Heli to operate at 1984 levels - the year the Wyoming Wilderness Act took effect.

The company was permitted for 418 days in 1984, but how many were used in the study area is the subject of debate.

This might "allow this business to thrive but not in areas that are being considered by Congress for wilderness," Darin said. "We think there is an opportunity to work out some different solution than 1,200 skier days unrestricted."

Representatives of High Mountain Heli-Skiing were not available for comment Wednesday.

The company will continue to operate this year under a one-year special use permit with 832 skier days - as it has operated during the last three years.

The company's highest use has been 903 skier days during a winter season, with a permit granted as an exception from the Forest Service. The company has averaged about 750 skier days per year.

The special-use permit encompasses 305,000 acres of Forest Service land - 135,000 of those acres are the wilderness study area.

The back and forth between the operator, conservation groups and the Forest Service has been ongoing since the company's permit was up for renewal in 2001. Company representatives have said there is no impact to wilderness areas with helicopter skiing, as ski tracks melt away with the snow.

Skiing is a quiet activity and has no more impact than people hiking in the area, they said.

Groups filing the appeal were the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Sierra Club, Wyoming Wilderness Association and the Predator Conservation Alliance.

Environmental reporter Whitney Royster can be reached at (307) 734-0260 or at royster@trib.com.