A federal judge in Arizona ruled in favor of a controversial plan to allow snowmaking in the sacred San Francisco Peaks.
U.S. District Judge Paul Rosenblatt said the use of reclaimed water to make snow does not infringe on tribal religious rights. "The decision does not coerce individuals into acting contrary to their religious beliefs nor does it penalize anyone for practicing his or her religion," he wrote in the 62-page opinion [PDF] issued late Wednesday.
Several tribes, including the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe, sued the U.S. Forest Service for allowing the Arizona Snowbowl, a ski resort, to make snow in the peaks. The tribes have indicated they will appeal an adverse ruling.
Get the Story:
Judge: Snowbowl can make snow
(The Arizona Republic 1/12)
Judge OKs snowmaking on Peaks (The Arizona Daily Sun 1/12)
SNOW BOWL RULING (The Arizona Daily Sun 1/12)
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:
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case (12/12)
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(10/24)
Sacred Mountain Motorcycle Run this
weekend (10/14)
Judge calls trial on
snowmaking in sacred peaks (10/10)
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
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on snowmaking plan (6/7)
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to snowmaking plan in sacred peaks (04/26)
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Editorial: Sacred peaks
don't belong to tribes alone (3/14)
Tribes blast OK of snowmaking plan in sacred peaks
(3/9)
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Editorial: Ski area helped by snowmaking
plan (02/20)
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Tribes to fight snowmaking in
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Hopi Tribe opposing snowmaking in sacred
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Ski area
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