Hopi Tribe Lose in Lawsuit to Stop Flagstaff Selling Sewer Water to Make Fake Snow

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Artificial Snow

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA - The Hopi Tribe suffered a defeat last Friday before the Coconino County Superior Court in its attempt to stop the City of Flagstaff from selling reclaimed wastewater - sewer water - to Arizona Snowbowl.

The decision by Coconino County Superior Court Judge Joe Lodge was based on the fact major points in the case had already been decided in an earlier federal court ruling. He also said the Hopi Tribe was legally required to raise objections earlier.

Another case is pending in the US Circuit Court of Appeals based on health and environmental issues. The case that was also brought by the Hopi Tribe is set to hear oral arguments on January 9.

The Tribe has yet to decide if they will appeal Judge Lodge's ruling.

"We're going to seriously talk and look at what we have,"

commented Chairman Le Roy Shingoitewa of the Hopi Tribe.

Snowbowl is already laying pipes that would bring waste water up the ski mountain.

Opponents of the proposed pipelines that would bring waste water to make artificial snow twice chained themselves to equipment to close down the construction earlier this year.

posted December 27, 2011 6:00 am est