Environment | Law

Ski resort criticized tribes in sacred site case

Thursday, October 25, 2007

A ski resort in the sacred San Francisco Peaks of Arizona has called tribes hypocritical for going to court to stop the use of treated sewage to make snow.

Snowbowl General Manager Eric Borowsky said some of the tribes involved in the case have "less than stellar environmental records," Capitol Media Services reported. He said the White Mountain Apache Tribe, one of the plaintiffs, uses "virtually untreated" sewage at its ski resort and that the Hualapai Tribe has harmed the Grand Canyon by building a glass-bottomed skywalk.

"The political position of several of the Indian tribes, with less than stellar environmental records, who are involved in this matter is nothing short of hypocritical," Borowsky said.

The comments were made after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in March blocked the Snowbowl from using reclaimed wastewater to make snow. The court said the U.S. Forest Service violated the religious rights of tribes by allowing the project.

The 9th Circuit has since agreed to put the case before a full panel of the court. A date for oral arguments has not been set.

Get the Story:
Snowbowl's bid to recycle sewage revived (Capitol Media Services 10/25)

Court Order:
Navajo Nation v. US Forest Service (October 17, 2007)

Earlier Decision:
Navajo Nation v. US Forest Service (March 12, 2007)

Listen to Oral Arguments:
Navajo Nation v. Forest Service (September 14, 2006)

Appeals Court Documents:
Opening Brief [Word DOC] | Reply Brief [Word DOC]

Lower Court Decision:
Navajo Nation v. US Forest Service (January 11, 2006)

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

Relevant Links:
Save the Peaks Coalition - http://www.savethepeaks.org
Coconino National Forest - http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/index.shtml