Forest Service Decision Misses Opportunity to Protect Cultural and Environmental Values of Sacred Peaks
Coalition Condemns Nora Rasure's Decision to Allow Snowmaking with Wastewater, Vows to Stop Plan.

Flagstaff, AZ--  Coconino National Forest Supervisor Nora Rasure's decision to allow Arizona Snowbowl to use reclaimed wastewater to make artificial snow on the sacred San Francisco Peaks drew outrage from its many long-time opponents, who vowed to stop the plan.

"Ms. Rasure's decision flies in the face of facts in their own Draft Environmental Impact Statement, respect for ancient traditions and sound ecological and economic judgment," said Save the Peaks Coalition member Klee Benally. "The Coalition will be challenging this decision in hopes that her superiors will defend the mountain's natural and cultural values."

Leaders from fourteen Southwestern tribes who hold the mountain sacred met with Rasure in February at a summit hosted by the Coalition. They expressed their opposition to Snowbowl's plans for development on the San Francisco Peaks.

Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr.'s remarks underscored the mountain's great cultural significance and emphasized the severe adverse impacts the Snowbowl plan would have on Native peoples throughout the region.

" We want to share with you what it means when we say, 'the Peaks are us...it is Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Acoma.'" Shirley said. "When you build on it, when you talk about putting wastewater on it, you are desecrating our life. You are chipping away at our way of life and committing genocide.

"We are an endangered species," Shirley continued. "We need all the help we can get...My heart cries when I hear sacred sites are desecrated. As a leader, I am doing all I can to save them."

Tribes represented at the summit were Hopi, Hualapai, Havasupai, Navajo, Kiabab-Paiute, Yavapai-Apache, Salt River, San Carlos Apache, Zuni and Acoma Nations.

Rasure's decision shows disrespect for the human rights of tribal members who look to the Peaks for their cultural and spiritual needs. In addition, the environmental impacts from snowmaking with reclaimed water will cause long term problems on the Peaks and destroy critical alpine habitat found in few places in Arizona.

Critics of Rasure's decision say it misses an opportunity to improve community relations.

"The Forest Service has squandered an opportunity to do the right thing," said Andy Bessler a Coalition member and representative of the Sierra Club. "This plan is culturally and environmentally destructive. "

"The Forest Service's own documents prove that snowmaking will not impact Flagstaff's economy in a significant way, will not allow more skiers to use Snowbowl, and without adequate natural snow, not improve skiing conditions," Bessler said.

"With her decision, Rasure is deepening an unhealthy division between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in the Southwest," said Kelvin Long director of ECHOES (Educating Communities While Healing and Offering Environmental Support). "It only supports the goals and missions of non-native communities. In order to build healthy relationships, cultural and religious traditions need to be respected."

Traditional cultural practioners have strongly objected to the plan, which they say is a threat to the mountain they consider central to their identity. The Dine' Medicine Mens' Association voted unanimously to oppose the plan after the draft EIS was released in 2004.

"Unfortunately, we are not surprised by this," said Coalition member Michael Wolcott. "The Forest Service has repeatedly favored Snowbowl's commercial goals over spiritual and environmental values, despite vigorous longstanding opposition from tribes and environmentalists."

Conservationists also cite possible harm to wildlife from endocrine disruptors and other chemicals found in reclaimed water.

The Save the Peaks Coalition will fight the decision through the Federal Government's administrative process and demand that the unique ecological and cultural values of the Peaks be protected.


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