U.S. Department of Justice Chooses to Continue Desecration of Sacred Site

Press release by: www.savethepeaks.org

Rudy Preston
Flagstaff Activist Network
Email: rudy@flagstaffactivist.org


Flagstaff, AZ -- On Wednesday, May 30th the United States Department of Justice on behalf of the Forest Service filed for a rehearing and appeal "en banc" in the case to protect the San Francisco Peaks in Northern Arizona. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled in favor of Native American tribes and environmental groups on the grounds that a proposed ski area development and expansion would violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.

The Peaks, which are held holy by more than 13 Native American Nations, have been at the center of a legal battle that has pitted tribes and environmental groups against the U.S. Forest Service and a small private ski area. The Arizona Snowbowl ski area has been attempting an expansion and snowmaking with treated sewage effluent on the sacred mountain. The US Forest Service, which leases the land to Snowbowl, approved the decision but was faced with lawsuits by the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the Yavapai-Apache Tribe, the Havasupai Tribe, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Flagstaff Activist Network.

"The decision of the Forest Service and Snowbowl to appeal the ruling is shameful and harmful to all of the tribes and people of this country who value religious freedom and a healthy environment." Said Howard Shanker, of the Shanker Law Firm, PLC. "The 9th Circuit ruling did not grant Native Americans new rights that restrict other uses of public lands, it only upheld and protected the rights they already have."

Click here to read more: http://www.savethepeaks.org/may30_07.html