Flagstaff Skiing Snow Making

 

flagstaff skiing snow making

 

Flagstaff skiing, snow making updates... press releases, statements - and stories.

  

~~~~~ ~~~~~

August 31, 2010

 

Snowbowl Water Hearing Continues

 

They met, they listened, they discussed, and they decided... to meet again on Thursday morning, August 2, at 10 AM.

The issue, of course, is whether to adopt the proposed modification to an existing 2002 agreement to sell the ski area reclaimed water. That modification would give the Snowbowl owners the option of using potable (drinking) water instead.

 

 

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August 28, 2010

 

Navajo Nation, Various Tribal Nations Form United Front To Oppose Any Arizona Snowbowl Expansion

 

On August 30 at the Flagstaff City Council's special meeting, the Navajo Nation alongside the Hopi Tribe, Havasupai Tribe, Pueblo of Zuni, Hualapai Tribe, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, and many more tribal nations will stand strong and unified against the Arizona Snowbowl's proposed contract amendment to have the city of Flagstaff sell potable water to the ski resort for snowmaking purposes on the sacred San Francisco Peaks (Dook'o'oslííd).

On July 21, the 21st Navajo Nation Council voted overwhelmingly to implore the Flagstaff City Council to disapprove the proposed contract to sell potable water to Arizona Snowbowl for snowmaking on Dook'o'oslííd. The Navajo Nation reaffirmed its opposition to the expansion of the Arizona Snowbowl and reaffirmed its opposition to the further desecration of Dook'o'oslííd by the proposed use of treated wastewater.

Additionally, the Navajo Nation among other tribes maintains that clean drinking water is essential for all living beings, especially in the arid Arizona climate where water should not be wasted on non-essential recreational activities such as snowmaking.

Since the proposed contract, the Navajo Nation and neighboring tribes have formed an alliance that remains adamantly opposed to ski resort expansion using any type of reclaimed water.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Thomas Walker, an integral leader on this issue stated, "The result of this appalling effort by Arizona Snowbowl has brought together an unprecedented and extensive alliance of tribes that will not rest until this issue is resolved appropriately."

"We have visited many tribes over the past month to build an alliance that with its synergy alone cannot be overcome locally, state-wide, or in Washington D.C," Walker added. "Without doubt our strength as unified tribes will be heard and felt on August 30."

 

 

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July 30, 2010

 

Water Commission Recommends...

 

Flagstaff's Water Commission met last night and decided (on a 5 - 4 vote) to recommend that Flagstaff sell water to the Arizona Snowbowl. What kind of water? Either potable water or reclaimed wastewater.

Of course, the city already has a contract to sell them reclaimed wastewater. The current ruminations are about possibly amending the contract.

The City Council is expected to make a decision in about a month... or not. The City Council may try to refer the decision to the Department of Agriculture.

 

 

~~~~~ ~~~~~

July 21, 2010

 

Judge wants snowmaking plans delayed

 

PHOENIX — A federal judge asked the owners of Arizona Showbowl to delay the start of construction for an artificial snowmaking system for at least another two weeks.

At a hearing yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Mary Murguia stated that City of Flagstaff officials are expected to decide by that time whether they intend to sell potable water to Snowbowl.

Howard Shanker, the attorney for groups challenging the current plan to use reclaimed wastewater on the San Francisco Peaks, conceded that would make his lawsuit to preclude the use of “treated effluent” to make snow at the resort irrelevant. However, foes of any snowmaking said they would file a new lawsuit challenging even the use of potable’ water on the mountain.

 

 

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July 12, 2010

Save the Peaks Coalition

 

Save the Peaks District Court Arguments Rescheduled for July 20th

 

Events Scheduled Starting July 15 in Phoenix, AZ

 

Phoenix, AZ -- An Arizona District Court has once again rescheduled oral arguments in the lawsuit challenging the proposed use of treated sewage effluent for snowmaking on the San Francisco Peaks located in Northern Arizona. The oral arguments have been moved from July 16th and rescheduled to be heard at 1:00 PM (MST-AZ), Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 in the United States District Court in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Save the Peaks Coalition and other groups are continuing their call for support and will be rallying at the courthouse on June 20th at 11:00 AM and urging everyone to join them in the courtroom at 1:00 PM. A full schedule of planned events is listed below.


The case known as The Save the Peaks Coalition, et al. v. U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will be heard before Honorable Judge Mary H. Murguia. The suit asserts, among other things, that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared by the USFS ignores the possibility of human ingestion of snow made from treated sewage effluent. Snowbowl would be the only ski area in the world to use 100% wastewater to make snow. They would use 1.5 million gallons per day, storing and spraying this wastewater on a mountain that is holy to more than 13 Indigenous Nations.

"This case was filed because we insist that our children not be used as guinea pigs for the profit of a single private business operating on our public lands." Stated Jeneda Benally, a complaintant in the lawsuit. "The Forest Service already has admitted that there was no consideration of the impacts if children consumed wastewater snow that they acknowledge contains untreated contaminants. We will continue to work to protect the Peaks until our children, our environment, and Indigenous ways of life are no longer threatened by greedy business owners and misguided government agencies and politicians."

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality regulations allow A+ class treated sewer water to contain fecal matter in three out of seven daily samples (R18-11-303 2a). Moreover, studies done by Dr. Catherine Propper, Professor of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University, on this same treated sewer water have concluded the waste water contains pharmaceuticals, hormones, endocrine disruptors, industrial pollutants like pesticides and herbicides, and narcotics. David Norris, PhD, an integrative physiology professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, found that pharmaceutical ethinylestradiol made it through the Boulder, Colo. Wastewater Treatment Plant and into Boulder Creek and reported that native male fish in Boulder Creek decreased in numbers with respect to females and numerous intersex fish were found downstream of the wastewater treatment plant. He states, "the fish are a wake-up call, our bodies and those of the much more sensitive human fetus are being exposed everyday to a variety of chemicals that are capable of altering not only our development and physiology but that of future generations as well."

Additionally, according to biologist Dr. Paul Torrence the treated sewage effluent may also contain antibiotics, such as triclosan and triclocarban which can break down into bio-accumulating cancerous dioxins when exposed to the high altitude sunlight of the peaks. There have also been documented cases of treated sewage released into the Colorado river that have caused numerous outbreaks of norovirus among Grand Canyon rafters. Plaintiffs involved in this ongoing lawsuit have consistently insisted that the USFS take a hard look at what might happen to the people when they come in contact with or ingest snow made from treated sewage effluent. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the USFS is obligated to consider these types of potential impacts on the quality of the human environment. In 2007 a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court found that the USFS failed to adequately consider the possibility of human ingestion of snow made from treated sewage effluent. In Judge William Fletcher's opinion, he concludes "the FEIS does not contain a reasonably thorough discussion of the risks posed by possible human ingestion of artificial snow made from treated sewage effluent, and does not articulate why such discussion is unnecessary." The holding of the three-judge panel was later overturned on a technicality by an en banc panel of the Ninth Circuit.

On July 2, 2010 the USDA granted Snowbowl ski resort permission for development including a choice to use either direct sourced treated sewer water for snowmaking or "recovered-reclaimed" water from a Flagstaff City water line. When the Flagstaff Water Commission pressed for a definition of what exactly "recovered-reclaimed" wastewater is at a recent meeting, a city employee admitted that this was actually Flagstaff's drinking water supply. If "recovered-reclaimed" water is approved by the Flagstaff City Council the federal government would offset additional costs with a tax payer loan of $11 million.

Howard Shanker, representing the Save the Peaks Coalition and additional plaintiffs, filed for a temporary restraining order to block the proposed development.

"Snowmaking with treated sewage effluent is a bad choice for the environment, public health and the sanctity of the Holy San Francisco Peaks." stated Moran Henn, an environmental scientist. "It's good that the USDA has finally recognized that fact but they cannot pretend that using "recovered-reclaimed" which is really Flagstaff's drinking water will be less offensive in a community where water is scarce, where water is life."

Volunteer supporters of the Save the Peaks Coalition are also proceeding with a prayer vigil and rally as planned for July 16th. They will use the opportunity to educate Phoenix residents about threats of untested and untreated pharmaceuticals, hormones and cancer causing agents in wastewater and possible impacts to the Holy San Francisco Peaks.  The planned Flagstaff solidarity vigil will go on as scheduled on the 16th as well.

Additionally, we are urging Flagstaff residents to attend the July 29th Flagstaff City Water Commission's public hearing on whether or not Flagstaff's drinking water will be sold to Snowbowl instead of treated sewage. We are urging everyone to oppose any snowmaking on the San Francisco Peaks. The hearing will be located at Flagstaff City Hall and volunteer supporters will set up a vigil in front of city hall at 4PM.

For a background, legal documents, photos, updates, and further information please visit: www.TrueSnow.org

Note to editors: Colorful banners & theatrical displays.
Preliminary interviews can be arranged.



SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, JULY 15TH


Taking Action for Healthy Communities
Free dinner and discussion - 6:30PM - 9:30PM

At Serena Juste (Padilla) Residence
Onk Akimel O'odham Nation (Salt River)
9312 E. Thomas Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Camping available
Please RSVP at www.TrueSnow.org


FRIDAY, JULY 16TH


Sunrise Prayer Gathering for Protection of Sacred Places
At Serena Juste (Padilla) Residence
Onk Akimel O'odham Nation (Salt River)
9312 E. Thomas Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85256

NOON - Rally to Protect the Peaks
Wesley Bolin Memorial Park
1700 West Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007


FLAGSTAFF 2PM to 4PM
Solidarity Vigil
City Hall (RT. 66 & Humphries)


TUESDAY, JULY 20TH

11:00AM - 2:00PM - Rally & Vigil
(Rally to continue outside for those who do not wish to enter courthouse)
Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse
401 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85003-2118

1:00PM - Courtroom Oral Arguments
Public is welcome! Bring picture ID

2:25PM - News Briefing with Lawyer Howard Shanker

THURSDAY, JULY 29TH


4:00PM - Rally at Flagstaff City Hall Lawn
5:00PM - Flagstaff City Water Commission Public Hearing

More information: www.TrueSnow.org
phxrally@TrueSnow.org  

~~~~~ ~~~~~

 

July 6, 2010

Opponents of snow making at the Arizona Snowbowl have once again gone to court in another attempt to "stop or at least delay construction."

 

 

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July 2, 2010

Representative
Ann Kirkpatrick

 

Agriculture Department Has Granted Permit for Snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl

 

FLAGSTAFF, AZ – Representative Ann Kirkpatrick today announced that after 13 months of negotiations with key stakeholders and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA is granting the permit allowing snowmaking to proceed at Arizona Snowbowl. This is another step towards ending the seven-year battle over this cost-effective jobs project.

Rep. Kirkpatrick has been working with the Agriculture Department and other involved parties to find a path forward for this effort that addresses all of the issues under discussion, and the permit reflects that process. It gives the stakeholders and the community options as they craft an agreement that creates jobs, strengthens the economy, secures a long-term water source for Flagstaff and acknowledges the sacredness of the San Francisco Peaks to our Native American tribes.

“The stakeholders are putting in the time and effort it takes to find a consensus solution that truly meets the needs of our community. This permit gives us the control and the flexibility we need to move forward,” said Rep. Kirkpatrick. “We can find the right balance of encouraging growth, protecting our environment and respecting our tribal communities.

“This will bring hundreds of new jobs to Flagstaff and have a tremendous economic impact, and it is important for us to realize that potential. However, we have to do it with balance.”

Rep. Kirkpatrick has been engaged with the snowmaking effort since her service in the state legislature, and has consistently maintained that a negotiated settlement would be best for all those involved. Ever since the courts made their final rulings on the questions at hand and it fell into USDA’s jurisdiction, she has been pushing to make progress on the project while fully considering the issues raised.

Rep. Kirkpatrick joined Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl in writing a letter asking the Agriculture Department to explain why the Record of Decision was being held, and she separately made a formal request for them to lay out their plan. USDA released their proposal in February, and she hosted a tele-conference in April in which she announced her support for that outline and highlighted the potential benefits of a well-tailored agreement for Flagstaff. She has been meeting with department officials, Flagstaff leaders and other stakeholders throughout this period to facilitate and to help move them closer to a working compromise.

 

May 28, 2010

The Flagstaff Water Commission is hearing from parties on both sides of the proposal to use potable water for snowmaking. Local residents tend to oppose the idea, citing the limited water supply.

The Indian tribes and their allied environmental organizations (losers in the Supreme Court) continue to oppose all snowmaking.

 

March 9, 2010

The Obama administration's Department of Agriculture is attempting to coerce the City of Flagstaff into supplying scarce potable and pumped ground water for snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl.  that does not come directly from reclaimed wastewater.

The Snowbowl would also reportedly receive $11 million in "government aid" (tax dollars) to cover the higher costs for the water but over a period of years.

Arizona senators Kyl and McCain issued a letter blasting the plan as a waste of taxpayer money and a violation of court decisions in favor of making snow at Snowbowl with treated effluent. Their letter stated...

"We oppose the use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl, and we will object to any attempt to secure an earmark or congressional approval of this project."

 

Site Build It!

 

December, 21, 2009

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's delaying of permits will probably delay snow making at the Arizona Snowbowl beyond the 2010-2011 season that the ski area's owners had sought... and are legally entitled to.

 It is also unlikely the Snowbowl will get a 160-foot conveyor system to transport beginning skiers and snowboarders uphill this season at Hart Prairie.

Why? Because the U.S. Department of Agriculture put a hold on installation of snowmaking equipment in September, according to agency documents. Lawyers representing the U.S. Forest Service, which falls under Agriculture, said it would be at least next summer before any other construction started at Snowbowl.

That could possibly delay making snow with reclaimed wastewater beyond the 2010-2011 season that the ski area's owners had sought.

Why would a U.S. government department deliberately inflict financial pain on this one citizen? The legal questions have been settled by the U.S. Supreme Court... but the political battle continues.

 

November, 26, 2009

Feds admit withholding permits for Snowbowl

The Forest Service said  it is withholding snowmaking and related construction permits for a northern Arizona ski resort as a way to promote settlement talks between several Indian tribes and the resort's owners.

The permits are being delayed despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June that upheld the Arizona Snowbowl's right to proceed with construction and operations.

Snowbowl owner Eric Borowsky said talks aimed at reaching a deal had ended a month ago.

"So far, there have been no new ideas, so we're just waiting for the notice to proceed," he said.

It is believed by many that the Forest Service is withholding the permits at the behest of political appointees in the Department of Agriculture.

 

 

McCAIN SEEKS EXPLANATION FROM USDA ON SNOWBOWL DELAY

October 14, 2009

Washington, D.C. ­– U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) joined Republican Whip Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) in issuing a second letter to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, regarding the Forest Service’s delay in moving forward with Arizona Snowbowl’s facility improvements:

 

 “We are writing to request a meeting to discuss the implementation of the May 2005 Record of Decision (ROD) issued by the Forest Service for the Arizona Snowbowl Facilities Improvement Project (‘the Project’).

 “You may recall that on June 26, 2009, we wrote to you asking for a status report and timeline for implementing the ROD for the Project.  Instead of a substantive reply, we received a letter from Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan that failed to provide the requested information and leaves the unmistakable impression that the Department has no plan to release a Notice to Proceed.     

 “As you know, a Record of Decision is a final agency action that’s subject to judicial review.  The ROD for Arizona Snowbowl was successfully upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and a petition for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court was subsequently denied.  The Justice Department has devoted considerable taxpayer resources defending Forest Service actions in Navajo Nation v. Forest Service (Docket No. 08-846).  Arizona Snowbowl has spent an estimated $5 million over the past 8 years working through Forest Service procedures and the legal and administrative appeals process.  Nevertheless, it appears that the Department is seeking to indefinitely delay or outright cancel the ROD, which would be disastrous for Arizona Snowbowl and would establish sweeping precedence for all other permittees on Federal lands who pursue the administrative process for project approvals.

 “The Administration’s continued reluctance to implement the ROD is perplexing and necessitates a briefing on the Project at the earliest possible date.”

 

SBI! Monthly Billing Option

 

flagstaff skiing snow making

 

September, 21, 2009

We will impose Our Will in spite of the Supreme Court. That seems to be the attitude of the Save The Peaks Coalition and "a group of citizens" who, according to the Associated Press, filed another lawsuit today. 

the AP story says in part...

 

Lawsuit aims to stop expansion of Ariz. ski resort

"The U.S. Forest Service is being sued in an effort to block expansion of a ski resort on an Arizona mountain that American Indian tribes consider sacred.

The lawsuit was filed Monday by the Save the Peaks Coalition and a group of citizens. It comes more than three months after the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal from tribes that said the use of treated wastewater to make artificial snow threatened their religious and cultural survival.

The suit contends the Forest Service failed to consider the human health risks of ingesting snow made with treated wastewater at the Arizona Snowbowl resort outside Flagstaff."

 

 

August, 26, 2009

Now that the Supreme Court has declined to hear the legal appeal, the project can proceed...

The project will expand ski lifts, ski runs, snow play areas and make other facility improvements. A portion of the plan that will make artificial snow from City of Flagstaff treated effluent is the feature opponents have based most of their objections upon.

J.R. Murray, the general manager of Arizona Snowbowl, said the company plans to have snow making machines functioning by the 2010-2011 season. This will allow Snowbowl to be open for a full 100-day season, from Christmas through spring break, which Murray estimates will raise the amount of skiers from 120,000 to 200,000 per season.

Regarding the Supreme Court’s decision Murray said “We were very elated and very satisfied. We were committed to making sure that the Snowbowl continues to exist as a ski area in northern Arizona.”

Murray said snowmaking is necessary due to the high level of unpredictability with regard to the amount of snow the Peaks receive every snow season.

“Without the predictability of knowing whether we’re going to be open each year, it is impossible to run a business and succeed,” Murray said.

 

June 9, 2009

The U.S. Supreme Court announced yesterday that it has decided against reviewing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, of August 8, 2008, which clears the way for artificial snow making at the Arizona Snowbowl.

The decision to not review the Court of Appeals decision ends the court battle waged by opponents to prevent expansion of ski areas and snow making using treated effluent. 

Other tactics to prevent the ski area expansion have included attempts to block the treated effluent purchase agreement between the Arizona Snowbowl and the City of Flagstaff.

Opponents are surely looking for other avenues to prevent construction... such as denial of permits and/or construction financing.

 

January 7, 2009

Appeal To US Supreme Court Filed

Several Arizona Indian tribes (and other groups) filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving the expansion of the Arizona Snowbowl's authorization to use reclaimed waste water for artificial snow. The Snowbowl case has garnered significant attention as an opportunity for the court to establish some precedents under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Numerous activist groups around the West... and in Arizona, have taken interest in this case. Many see it as a means to "lock up" more public land and prevent any development.

 

 


The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request Friday to delay any construction at the Arizona Snowbowl until the U.S. Supreme Court could decide whether to hear the case. 

Opponents of snowmaking with reclaimed (treated) wastewater at the Arizona Snowbowl ski facility filed the request to have the court block construction there through mid-December, pending a high court appeal.

Snowbowl's operators have previously stated they would not plan any construction to add snowmaking equipment or new lifts to the area until next spring.

 

August 8, 2008

The Ninth District Court sides with Snowbowl

The operators of the Arizona Snowbowl are entitled to use recycled sewage to make snow on the San Francisco Peaks despite objections of several Native American tribes, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sitting en banc has ruled in an 8 to 3 decision.

Judge Carlos Bea, writing for the majority, “Were it otherwise, any action the federal government were to take, including action on its own land, would be subject to the personalized oversight of millions of citizens. Each citizen would hold an individual veto to prohibit the government action solely because it offends his religious beliefs, sensibilities, or tastes, or fails to satisfy his religious desires. Further, giving one religious sect a veto over the use of public park land would deprive others of the right to use what is, by definition, land that belongs to everyone.”

 

March 13, 2007

Court Rules Against Snowbowl

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the Arizona Snowbowl's plan to use treated wastewater to make snow would violate the religious freedom of more than a dozen American Indian tribes.

The 80-acre facility north of Flagstaff is located on the western flank of the San Francisco Peaks -- mountains that have spiritual and religious meaning to 13 tribes in the Southwest.

The tribes claimed the ski resorts' plans to expand - including use of treated wastewater from the City of Flagstaff - violates their religious freedom... and that the Forest Service did not adequately address the impact of wastewater on the environment.

The appellate court agreed with them. This case is now expected to go to the Supreme Court for a final decision.

 

December 17, 2006

The Flagstaff Daily Sun headline shouted "New data confirm contaminants in treated wastewater" but the first word in the underlying story was... Miniscule.

That newspaper story also includes these statements...

But even after a second study by an NAU biologist, it remains to be determined whether this exposure affects the health of wildlife and humans.

The city's top water official says the latest report isn't cause for alarm.

But the Flagstaff City Council is asking for more data...

The newspaper's apparent bias causes me to have an equal and opposite reaction!

 

December 14, 2006

The Flagstaff City Council renews the city's agreement to sell wastewater to the Arizona Snowbowl to make snow.

The Snowbowl plans to begin snowmaking next winter if it prevails on a legal appeal filed by tribes and environmental groups now pending in the federal courts.

To this point, government agencies and courts have upheld the Snowbowl's plans and agreements.

January 2006

Well, the federal judge's decision did not favor the position of those intent upon stopping improvements and expansion of the skiing and snow play facilities at the Snowbowl.

At least some of the complaining parties are planning to appeal the judge's ruling.

Here's a link to the Forest Service response to the snow making court decision.


September 14, 2006

Attorneys for the Navajo, Hopi and Hualapai tribes asked the Ninth District Court of Appeals to overturn previous decisions and prevent snowmaking at the Arizona Snowbowl..

 

December 2005

Where's the snow? Last year there was plenty of snow... and the activities that the snow makes possible. This year there is no snow at the Snowbowl, no skiing, and no jobs.

December 2005

The Trial is over... sort of. A decision is expected in early 2006 in the suit aimed at blocking snowmaking at the Snowbowl. That decision is sure to be appealed, whichever side prevails.

 

July 2005

Hopi Tribe joins lawsuit over snowmaking

Here is a resource that continually updates links related to this snowmaking issue... http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/009184.asp

 

April 2005

Appeals filed to snowmaking plan

Navajos, Hopis and environmental groups appeal Forest Service decision.

March  2005

Breaking News... Snowmaking proposal approved

Coconino National Forest Supervisor Nora Rasure announced her decision to approve Alternative Two of the Snowbowl Facilities Improvement Draft EIS.

Alternative Two would allow the making of artificial snow, improvements to lifts, lodges, and other facilities. A snow play area would also be constructed at the Snowbowl.

Supervisor Rasure noted that her decision is based primarily on improving safety and recreation opportunities.

The decision is widely anticipated to be appealed through the established appeals process, and then through the courts.

~~~  ~~~

Flagstaff skiing snow making and other facility improvements have been proposed at the Arizona Snowbowl.

This Flagstaff skiing snow making update page seeks to keep you informed of events as the proposal goes through the approval process. As the process and controversy drags on, I anticipate that my observayions and comments will become more pointed.

The Arizona Snowbowl skiing facility is located on Coconino National Forest land. This means that all significant improvements are subject to Federal rules, including an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The Forest Service usually hires a skilled contractor to execute the EIS process.

The process usually consists of numerous steps, including a draft EIS detailing several alternatives, a public comment period, evaluation of comments received, and a final EIS document being issued.


In the case of the Flagstaff skiing snow making proposal, the next steps following issuance of the final EIS will probably be court hearings. Several groups oppose any improvements and will undoubtedly continue their opposition through the Federal courts.

A number of years ago a previous Snowbowl operator proposed to make snow. Opponents fought the proposal all the way to the US Supreme Court before losing. However, snow making never materialized at the skiing facility. 

April 13, 2004 was the deadline for submission of public comments. More than 8,000 comments were received. The Forest Service's contractor is currently reviewing and preparing responses to all comments received.

Arizona Snowbowl's operator had hoped for a final decision from the Forest Service in late 2004, and to be making snow for the 2005 - 2006 season. The large number of comments has pushed that final decision into early 2005.

Those interested in the long term economic health of the Flagstaff area hope that snow making and other improvements happen, since the future of the Arizona Snowbowl seems to depend on snow making.

This Forest Service page addresses frequently asked questions regarding the Flagstaff skiing snow making proposal.

The Flagstaff skiing snow making  draft EIS can be viewed here.

Reproduced below is the Forest Service's original press release announcing the availability of the Flagstaff skiing snow making  draft EIS. It also contains additional information of interest.

~~~~~

February 2, 2004

Forest Service Releases Draft Study on Snowbowl Upgrade

Flagstaff, AZ - The Coconino National Forest today released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Arizona Snowbowl Improvement project.

The Preferred Alternative described in the document proposes to create snowmaking on 205 acres of skiable terrain at the ski area, using reclaimed water from the City of Flagstaff. It also proposes adding one new chairlift and four surface lifts; realigning and/or lengthening three of the current chairlifts; creating 74 acres of new ski runs; creating a snowplay/tubing area and associated infrastructure; creating a snowboarding halfpipe; and improving the ski area’s service facilities and resort infrastructure. All of the proposed improvements would occur entirely within the 777-acre ski area.

“We are at an important point in this process, which is a disclosure of the environmental and social effects related to a range of alternatives,” said Gene Waldrip, District Ranger of the Peaks Ranger District. “Public comment to this Draft Environmental Impact Statement is crucial to making a final decision.”

Waldrip added that the planning effort is closely tied to a need to improve the Snowbowl. “Our Preferred Alternative is designed to improve public safety at the ski area, plus it will augment customer service, bring the ski area into compliance with current ski industry norms, and lend vital stability to the economic viability of the Arizona Snowbowl,” he said. “Part of the Forest Service’s mission is to provide safe, well-managed recreation, such as downhill skiing and snowboarding. That’s why we are proposing this project.”

Night lighting at the ski area, a major element in the initial proposal, was dropped from the project during analysis, after officials saw little public support for the idea. “We dropped night lighting from the analysis because of several reasons,” said Waldrip. “It was not vital to meeting the project’s purpose and need, plus it got very little support. On top of that, analyzing the environmental and social effects of night lighting would have been extremely difficult.”

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is an interim environmental study report generated by the Forest Service to assess the environmental impacts associated with several alternative approaches to improving the Arizona Snowbowl. The Snowbowl DEIS contains three alternatives analyzed in detail, which are roughly described as No Action (Alternative 1), Proposed Action (Alternative 2), and No Snowmaking or Snowplay (Alternative 3). Alternative 2 is the Forest Service’s Preferred Alternative. Alternative 3 encompasses all proposed improvements except for snowmaking and constructing a snowplay area.

The DEIS for the Snowbowl Improvement project will enter a 60-day public comment period as soon as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of availability regarding the DEIS in the Federal Register. Nora Rasure, Supervisor of the Coconino National Forest, has extended the comment period from 45 days to 60 days. The purpose of this period is to allow the public an opportunity to review the DEIS and submit comments to it. Comments may express agreement or disagreement with the analysis and conclusions in the document. However, to be considered substantive (useful), comments should express the writer’s rationale for their position.

People may submit comments in the following ways:

Once the comment period has closed, the Forest Service will collect and analyze all public comments, and then factor these comments into the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project. That document, along with the Forest Service’s decision based on the analysis in the FEIS, is expected this fall.

In order to assist the public in evaluating the DEIS, the Coconino NF will hold a public open house regarding the Snowbowl DEIS on February 25, 2004, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Flagstaff High School, in the commons area. The public is invited to attend this open house at any time during the four-hour period and talk to a variety of resource specialists. Comment forms will be available at the open house, and the Forest Service will collect comments at this event.

To obtain a copy of the DEIS, please contact any Flagstaff office of the Coconino National Forest. The DEIS may be viewed on the Coconino NF’s website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/publications/snowbowl/index.shtml.

 

Links to related Flagstaff skiing snow making pages:

The Arizona Snowbowl Page

The Flagstaff Cross Country Skiing Page

The Flagstaff Snow Play Page

Return to the Flagstaff Skiing Page

About This South of Flagstaff Arizona Site Have you read this page lately?

Return to the South of Flagstaff Arizona Home Page

 


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