Senators urge feds to begin Snowbowl improvements

The U.S. senators from Arizona are continuing to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement the facilities improvement project for the Arizona Snowbowl.

Senators John McCain and Jon Kyl sent a joint letter March 8 to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing their dissatisfaction with the continued delay in executing the U.S. Forest Service's decision to allow modifications and new construction at the ski area.

In addition to showing disapproval, the senators also expressed concern about negotiations between the USDA and the city of Flagstaff to find an alternative source of water to use for snowmaking.

The USDA approached the city about alternatives to snowmaking with "direct delivered" reclaimed water and the city agreed to participate and explore options, according to a March 9 news release from the city.

Negotiations have centered on using potable water that is located underground and downstream from the city's Rio de Flag Water Reclamation plant instead of using processed wastewater from the plant, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. The potable water would be rerouted to Snowbowl for three months each winter to make artificial snow.

In 2002, the Flagstaff City Council approved selling the city's reclaimed wastewater to the Snowbowl to make artificial snow. Under the agreement, Snowbowl would buy 1.5 million gallons of reclaimed water from November to February each year. The water would be pumped up the mountain through 14 miles of pipeline.

In the senators' letter, they oppose using $11 million to construct a pipeline to transport reclaimed water from the city's municipal water supply wells to the ski area.

In their two-page letter, the senators wrote that they view the USDA's approach as an "egregious waste of taxpayer money" and that it displays a "disregard for Arizona's water management challenges."

"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," according to the letter.

In its press release, the city explained that the Flagstaff City Council has not voted to approve any agreement with the USDA, Snowbowl or other third parties and that no contracts are final until approved by the city council in a public meeting.

This is not the first time McCain has requested Vilsack to implement the ski area's improvement project. Last November, McCain wrote about his dissatisfaction with the USDA and that he will block confirmation of USDA nominees.

The ski area sits on 777-acres of U.S. Forest Service land within the Coconino National Forest. In March 2005, the forest service approved Snowbowl's improvement plans, including producing artificial snow with reclaimed wastewater during dry snow seasons.

Tribes and environmentalists have stated that the project violates Native American religious rights and that the environmental impact is unknown.

McCain and Kyl question whether or not this water proposal would be acceptable to the regional tribes because of their opposition to snowmaking.

"It is also unclear how this solution solves the affected tribes' cultural and spiritual concerns association with reclaimed water use," according to the letter.

Howard Shanker, the attorney who represented the Navajo Nation in its lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service, spoke about sacred sites at a human rights conference March 17 at the Navajo Nation Museum.

He is now representing the Save the Peaks Coalition and nine individuals in suing the forest service for violation of the National Environmental Policy Act.

"The Navajo Nation has taken the stance that making snow, whether it's from fresh water or reclaimed water, is still not acceptable," Shanker said after his presentation.

Philmer Bluehouse, of the Diné Hataali Association, also spoke about sacred sites.

"Every time we drink water, we have to get rid of it out of our bodies in various ways," he said. "Either we sweat it out or otherwise. That should be recycled in a natural way instead of interfering with that cycle."

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