The city of Flagstaff, Arizona, has enlisted a professor to look at water issues that affect the sacred San Francisco Peaks, The New York Times reports.

Amy Pruden, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, just completed d a study that showed the city's wastewater system is a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant genes. That could be an issue because the wastewater will be used to make fake snow at a ski resort in the sacred peaks.

Tribes and tribal activists have opposed the use of sewage in the peaks but have been rejected in the courts.

Get the Story:
Green: On the Slopes, Gliding on Wastewater (The New York Times 10/10)

9th Circuit Decisions:
Save the Peaks Coalition v. USFS (August 28, 2012)
Save the Peaks Coalition v. USFS (June 21, 2012)
Save The Peaks Coalition v. USFS (February 9, 2012)

Related Stories:
Navajo activist won't give up fight over sewage at sacred site (09/27)
Attorney in San Francisco Peaks litigation won't face sanctions (08/30)
Opinion: Indian activists not welcome by federal appeals court (6/27)
Appeals court sanctions lawyer in San Francisco Peaks litigation (6/21)
9th Circuit rejects bid to protect sacred San Francisco Peaks (02/09)
9th Circuit takes up dispute over sacred San Francisco Peaks (01/10)
9th Circuit debates dispute over sacred San Francisco Peaks (1/9)
Courts consider two lawsuits over snowmaking at sacred site (11/22)
BBC: Hopi Tribe battles reclaimed sewage at sacred peaks (10/20)
Editorial: Hopi Tribe lawsuit over fake snow seems misguided (9/1)
Earth 911: Skiing on reclaimed wastewater -- gross or green? (8/30)
Uprising: Hopi Tribe fights to keep wastewater off sacred site (8/29)
Fast Company: Hopi Tribe fights bid for fake snow at sacred site (8/25)
Hopi Tribe files lawsuit to block use of wastewater at sacred site (8/24)