Obama administration eyes compromise on sacred site
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Filed Under:
Environment
The Obama administration disappointed tribes last year when it asked the
U.S. Supreme Court not to hear a sacred site case involving the sacred San Francisco Peaks in Arizona.
The court eventually turned down the case, allowing the
Arizona Snowbowl ski resort to use reclaimed sewage to make snow in the
Coconino National
Forest.
But the administration is withholding approval of the project in the hopes of reaching a compromise with the developers and tribes.
The compromise apparently involves the use of a different water source -- not reclaimed sewage -- to make snow at the resort. And the administration says the Snowbowl can use taxpayer funds to pay for the project.
The deal has angered
Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) and
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona). They say the
Department of Agriculture should approve the Snowbowl project "immediately" but they also say it shouldn't involve federal funds.
Get the Story:
Secret Snowbowl talks break open
(The Arizona Daily Sun 3/9)
9th Circuit Decision:
Navajo
Nation v. US Forest Service (August 8, 2008)
Related Stories:
McCain backs ski resort over tribes on sacred site (11/24)
Navajo Nation Council
delays ski resort measure (10/23)
New
case filed over sacred San Francisco Peaks (09/21)
Editorial: Money wins over sacred site in
Arizona (06/22)
Cartoon: Real tears,
fake snow at sacred site (6/19)
Editorial: Fake snow alright at sacred peaks
(6/16)
Blog: No end to fight over San
Francisco Peaks (6/15)
Tribes weigh next
step in sacred site battle (6/9)
Supreme
Court declines to hear sacred site case (6/8)
Supreme Court to consider sacred site case
(6/1)
USDA official can't comment on
sacred site case (4/29)
Navajo Nation
seeks to resolve sacred site case (4/28)
Obama response awaited in sacred site case
(3/23)
Tribes ask Supreme Court to hear
sacred site case (1/6)
Tribes weigh next
move in sacred site case (10/23)
Indian
religious rights cases on high court's horizon (10/21)
9th Circuit delays ruling in sacred site case
(10/06)
Interview: Attorney in San Francisco
Peaks case (8/22)
Appeals court reverses
course on sacred site (8/12)
9th Circuit
issues rulings on sacred site, compacts (8/8)
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