US Ski Resort Awaits Snow Ruling
Thursday, February 1st, 2007
Owners of the Arizona Snowball ski resort are awaiting the results of a ruling as to whether or not they can utilise artificial snowmaking equipment.
The 68-year-old ski resort has opened late for the third time in four years due to a lack of snow cover.
A number of people have claimed that if the facility had had access to the snowmaking equipment, it could have opened in December as scheduled.
Objections to the proposed implementation of snowmaking machines include concerns from local environmentalists about the resort’s plan to pump purified wastewater up the mountain from Flagstaff by pipeline, according to the Arizona Republic.
"There [are] real concerns about what impacts that has on our health and the health of the environment," Andy Bessler, of the Sierra Club, told the Arizona Republic.
However, owner of Snowball Eric Borowsky argued that reclaimed water – which would be used in the snowmaking process – is an environmentally friendly technology.
Furthermore, Mr Borowsky claimed that the artificial snow is cleaner than natural snow.
The Arizona Repubilc reported that Mr Borowsky intends to sell the ski resort if he is not granted permission for the equipment.
