On Monday, April 12, 2004, a coalition of scientists, Native Americans, conservationists, skiers and community members submitted 108 pages of comments to the Coconino National Forest opposing the proposed action to expand development and implement snowmaking at Arizona Snowbowl. The comments submitted by the Sierra Club, Save the Peaks Coalition, Southwest Forest Alliance, Dineh Bidziil Coalition, Grand Canyon Wildlands Council, Flagstaff Activist Network, Center for Biological Diversity and others show that the Forest Service failed to meet its legal and moral obligations for “hard look” analysis and outreach and consultation to thirteen tribes and that the DEIS contains significant omissions, errors and bias. Comments
were developed through consultation with experts in hydrology, economics,
geology, environmental justice, chemistry, water quality, forest health,
environmental law, Native American culture and spiritual tradition, biology
and environmental science. The comments contain a comprehensive critique
of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Arizona Snowbowl Facilities
Improvement and provide the basis for the Forest Service to choose Alternative
1, the No Action Alternative. |