OLYMPIA -- If the Spokane Tribe and some local environmental groups are holding their breath for the governor to weigh in on the Mount Spokane ski run expansion fight, they might want to exhale.

They made the request about three weeks ago in the ongoing dispute over adding seven runs and a chair lift to the backside of the mountain, in an area that opponents say has the largest stretch of subalpine ecology in the county.

Inslee shows no signs of getting involved. Asked at a press conference whether he’d intervene as requested, and whether he thought all the questions about the project have been answered, the governor begged off.

“I just have not been briefed on this,” said Gov. Jay Inslee, who declared himself stumped on the question.

His staff later followed up by saying the Parks and Recreation Commission, which greenlighted the expansion, is appointed by the governor but has independent authority over the project. And the dispute is in court, so his office is not getting involved. What he meant was he hadn’t been briefed on any updates, the office said.

No answer yet on whether he thinks all the questions have been answered on the expansion project.

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