The Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe criticized the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday for approving a plan to make snow using wastewater in the sacred San Francisco Peaks.

The tribe say the use of reclaimed wastewater desecrates the peaks. They had fought against approval of the Snowbowl ski area's expansion plan.

The Forest Service issued a final environmental impact statement in favor of snowmaking. Only four of 13 affected tribes signed a memorandum of agreement affected the plan.

Get the Story:
Snowbowl can make own snow (The Arizona Republic 3/9)
Feds approve use of wastewater on sacred site (The Native American Times 3/8)

Approval Documents:
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Arizona Snowbowl Facilities Improvement | Forest Service Approves Snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl

Relevant Links:
Coconino National Forest - http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/index.shtml

Related Stories:
Deadline nears on snowmaking in sacred peaks plan (04/09)
Hopi Tribe to protest against snowmaking plan (03/19)
Editorial: Ski area helped by snowmaking plan (02/20)
Navajo Nation not planning boycott for sacred site (2/20)
Coalition protests snowmaking in sacred peaks (2/18)
Tribes to fight snowmaking in sacred Ariz. peaks (02/03)
Forest Service delays report on ski area expansion (12/02)
Hopi Tribe opposing snowmaking in sacred peaks (11/20)
Ski area on sacred mountain expanding (10/15)