A federal judge will hold a trial on tribal opposition to the expansion of a ski area in the sacred San Francisco Peaks.

The Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and other tribes oppose a decision by the U.S. Forest Service to allow the Arizona Snowbowl to use reclaimed wastewater to make snow. The tribes say the use of reclaimed water will harm their religion.

The Forest Service is arguing that the tribes will have other places to practice their religion. A prior court case went against the tribes when they challenged the existence of the ski area itself.

The trial is set to begin on Wednesday.

Get the Story:
Will Peaks become religious monument? (The Arizona Daily Sun 10/9)
Judge orders full trial on Snowbowl (The Arizona Daily Sun 10/8)

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

Related Stories:
U.S. argues against protecting sacred peaks in Arizona (10/7)
Hopi Chair: Ski area plan will destroy our culture (09/23)
Hopi Tribe joins lawsuit over snowmaking in peaks (07/08)
Bruce Babbitt fighting tribes on sacred site appeal (7/5)
Forest Service rejects tribal appeals on snowmaking (06/10)
Tribes await appeal on snowmaking plan (6/7)
Appeals filed to snowmaking plan in sacred peaks (04/26)
Navajo Nation considers appeal of snowmaking plan (03/15)
Editorial: Sacred peaks don't belong to tribes alone (3/14)
Tribes blast OK of snowmaking plan in sacred peaks (3/9)
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)