Several tribes are awaiting a ruling on their appeal of the U.S. Forest Service's decision to allow snowmaking in the sacred San Francisco Peaks.

About 40 tribes are opposing the plan, The Arizona Republic reports. They include the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, the Camp Verde Yavapai-Apache Nation, the Hualapai Tribe and numerous Pueblo tribes.

Tribal leaders say the use of reclaimed wastewater in the peaks is sacrilegious. "To Native Americans, desecrating the San Francisco Peaks with wastewater is like flushing the Koran down the toilet," Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. said.

The Forest Service is expected to issue a decision by Thursday. A lawsuit is possible.

Get the Story:
Peaks' sacred essence key to tribes' fight vs. Snowbowl (The Arizona Republic 6/7)

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:
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)
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