Ski Arizona

Ryan Randazzo - Jan. 6, 2010 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic

Seasonal Variations in Concentrations of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Drinking Water and Reclaimed Wastewater in Southern California
Southern California imports nearly all of its potable water from two sources:the Colorado River and the California State Water Project (Sacramento-San Joaquin River Basin).Sewage treatment plant effluent (STPE) heavily impacts both of these sources.A survey of raw and treated drinking water from four water filtration plants in San Diego County showed the occurrence of several polar organic "Pharmaceuticals and personal care products" (PPCP).These included phthalate esters,sunscreens,clofibrate,clofribric acid,ibuprofen,triclosan,and DEET.Several of these were also found in the finished water,such as di(ethylhexyl) phthalate,benzophenone,ibuprofen,and triclosan.Occurrence and concentrations of these compounds were highly seasonally dependent,and reached maximums when the flow of the San Joaquin River was low and the quantity of imported water was high.The maximum concentrations of the PPCPs measured in the raw water were correlated with low flow conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that feeds the State Water Project.The PPCP concentrations in raw imported water in the summer months approached that of reclaimed nonpotable wastewater.
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A cabinet deputy secretary has reopened talks with tribes and delayed issuing a work permit, despite pressure from Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and Sen. John McCain.
By CYNDY COLE Sun Staff Reporter Sunday, November 08, 2009
Some members of Arizona's congressional delegation -- including U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Flagstaff -- have asked: When is construction going to start at Snowbowl?
The agency now in charge of that decision is not giving any clear answers. Instead, it says it is attempting to forge a compromise between tribes and ski area owners.
U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl first wrote the Department of Agriculture in June, asking for a timeline on when the agency would allow construction to start at Arizona Snowbowl.
The Department of Agriculture, which includes the U.S. Forest Service, is now functionally in charge of the decision to allow or prohibit construction at Arizona Snowbowl. The authority comes after a federal appeals court denied tribes' religious complaints over plans approved by the Forest Service to use reclaimed wastewater to make snow and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the decision.
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it's delaying permits needed for a northern Arizona ski resort to install snowmaking equipment while American Indian tribes talk with resort owners about their concerns.
The Forest Service acknowledged the delay this week, after Sen. John McCain and other Arizona congressional delegation members pressured the agency to explain why construction permits haven't been issued.
But despite what the Forest Service said are ongoing conversations, Arizona Snowbowl owner Eric Borowsky says those talks ended more than a month ago with no resolution.
He says he expects permits to spray man-made (treated waste water) snow on the western flank of the San Francisco Peaks in time for next season.
Tribes have argued that artificial snow would desecrate the mountain they hold sacred.
The snow just happens to be made with treated waste water!

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it's delaying permits needed for the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort to install snowmaking equipment. American Indian tribes have argued that artificial snow would desecrate the mountain they hold sacred.
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Sen. John "treated wastewater" McCain has a message for the Agriculture Department: "Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow (in Arizona)!"
The former Republican presidential candidate said he will block the confirmation of USDA nominees until the U.S. Forest Service allows an Arizona ski resort to make artificial snow with treated wastewater.
McCain's decision means at least two USDA nominees remain in limbo awaiting Senate confirmation, according to The Post's Head Count. President Obama has not nominated anyone to fill three other political positions at USDA.
McCain and Grand Canyon State colleague Jon Kyl (R) first wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in June asking why the Forest Service had not approved the Arizona Snowbowl's request to use snowmaking equipment on its peaks in the Coconino National Forest.
The agency has the legal right to approve the request following years of litigation by several Native American tribes that had fought to block the use of snowmaking equipment on mountains they consider sacred. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the tribes' case in June. Snowbowl officials have said they will not move ahead until they get final clearance from Washington, and they're still waiting.
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