Project: Arizona Snowbowl, Arizona

  • SE Group's team of environmental analysts and project managers were instrumental in the preparation and management of this complex analysis and approval process, noted as being one of the most contentious Environmental Impact Statements ever prepared for a ski area project
  • The Record of Decision (ROD) was upheld through four years of appeals and legal challenges, extending all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court
  • Project implementation began in June 2011 with the installation of pipelines and terrain clearing

Project Description

More Projects

Under the direction of the Coconino National Forest, SE Group prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Arizona Snowbowl that analyzed the full range of impacts to the human and biological environment of a proposal that included improvements to the ski area’s lift and terrain network, day lodges, parking, and most notably, the proposed use of Class A+ reclaimed wastewater for snowmaking. Because the Arizona Snowbowl is situated on the San Francisco Peaks (which are held sacred to at least 13 federally recognized Native American tribes in the Four Corners area) the most contentious issues were Native American views and water quality associated with proposed snowmaking. The Coconino National Forest received almost 6,000 comments on the Draft EIS, which was released to the public in February 2004. After all comments were processed and the analysis was revised accordingly, a Final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) was released in February 2005, approving all aspects of the proposal. During the administrative appeal process that followed issuance of the ROD, the Forest Service received 169 appeals filed by tribes, environmental groups and the public. Upon review by the Regional Forester, the ROD was upheld on all counts.

The Final EIS and ROD resulted in an approved Master Development Plan for the Arizona Snowbowl; however, the MDP could not be implemented until all legal remedies were exhausted. Legal recourse subsequent to the culmination of the administrative appeal process spanned 4 years, and included challenges in the federal district court, followed by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, where the Coconino National Forest Supervisor’s decision was initially reversed, and then later upheld. In June 2009, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the opponents’ petition to appeal, effectively upholding the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling in favor of the Forest Service’s decision. Implementation of the Arizona Snowbowl project began in June 2011 with the installation of pipelines and clearing of new skiing terrain.