The City of Flagstaff petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court last week to review the latest decision in a four-year-old lawsuit against aspiring helium producer Desert Mountain Energy Corp, after the state’s Court of Appeals ruled in the company’s favor a month ago.
The litigation challenges Desert Mountain’s right to drill an exploratory helium well in the vicinity of Red Gap Ranch, which the city purchased in 2005 for its groundwater rights.
kAms6D6CE |@F?E2:? :D 2 r2?25:2?\32D65 4@>A2?J[ 2?5 :E 9@=5D D:8?:7:42?E =2?5 =62D6D :? pC:K@?2 2?5 }6H |6I:4@ 7@C E96 AFCA@D6D @7 96=:F>[ 9J5C@86? 2?5 ?2EFC2= 82D AC@5F4E:@?] %96 4@>A2?J’D =2E6DE 2??F2= :?7@C>2E:@? 7@C>[ 7:=65 H:E9 E96 r2?25:2? $64FC:E:6D p5>:?:DEC2E@CD @? u63] c[ 24<?@H=65865 E96 =2HDF:E H:E9 E96 4:EJ 2?5 DE2E65[ â€�%96 r@>A2?J 92D 36=:6G65 2?5 4@?E:?F6D E@ 36=:6G6 :E H:== AC6G2:=]â€k^Am
kAms@? |@D96C[ E96 4@>A2?JVD AC6D:56?E 2?5 5:C64E@C[ 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E[ 4:E:?8 E96 @?8@:?8 =682= AC@4665:?8D]k^Am
kAm$2?5J q29C[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 $:6CC2 r=F3’D vC2?5 r2?J@? r92AE6C[ D2:5 E96 4:EJ’D 4@?46C?D H6C6 ;FDE:7:23=6] Wq29C’D @C82?:K2E:@? DF65 E96 qFC62F @7 {2?5 |2?286>6?E @G6C =2?5 =62D6D >256 E@ s6D6CE |@F?E2:? :? a_`h 3FE :D ?@E 2 A2CEJ E@ E96 =:E:82E:@? 36EH66? E96 4@>A2?J 2?5 u=28DE277]Xk^Am
kAm“~FC H2E6C \\ 2?5 6DA64:2==J :? E9:D 42D6[ H6 2C6 E2=<:?8 23@FE E96 4:EJ’D 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C \\ :D E@@ AC64:@FD 2?5 E@@ :>A@CE2?E E@ E2<6 E96D6 <:?5D @7 C:D<D[� q29C D2:5] $96 D2:5 E96 $:6CC2 r=F3 :D ?@E 4@?G:?465 96=:F> 6IA=@C2E:@? H:== 36 92C>=6DD E@ 8C@F?5H2E6C 2BF:76CD]k^Am
kAm�(6 2C6 2 H2E6C\=:>:E65 DE2E6[ D@ H6 42?’E 277@C5 E@ 36 2==@H:?8 D@>63@5J E@ 4@>6 :?[ E2<6 @FE E96 96=:F> 2?5 =62G6 2 >6DD 7@C FD E92E 42? 3@E9 36 4@DE=J 2?5 C62==J 5:77:4F=E E@ 4=62? FA[� q29C 25565]k^Am
kAm%96 u=28DE277 r:EJ r@F?4:= 2AAC@G65 E96 A6E:E:@? E@ E96 pC:K@?2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 5FC:?8 :ED AF3=:4 >66E:?8 @? %F6D52J[ pAC:= `] %92E >@E:@? H2D A2CE @7 E96 4@F?4:=’D 4@?D6?E 286?52 2?5 C646:G65 ?@ D6A2C2E6 5:D4FDD:@?] %96 A6E:E:@? 925 366? AC6D6?E65 E@ E96 4@F?4:= :? 2? 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@? H:E9 E96 4:EJ’D =682= DE277 AC:@C E@ E92E >66E:?8]k^Am
kAmu=28DE277’D 4:G:= 2EE@C?6J[ $E6C=:?8 $@=@>@?[ 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E] %96 4:EJVD AF3=:4 2772:CD 5:C64E@C[ $2C29 {2?8=6J[ 4@?7:C>65 E92E E96 4:EJ 7:=65 :ED A6E:E:@? 7@C C6G:6H @? %9FCD52J[ pAC:= b] k^Am
kAm%96 =:E:82E:@? 3682? :? s646>36C a_a_[ ;FDE 27E6C s6D6CE |@F?E2:? 2??@F?465 :E 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]56D6CE>@F?E2:?6?6C8J]4@>^56D6CE\>@F?E2:?\6?6C8J\4@>>6?46D\5C:==:?8\E96\E9:C5\H6==\:?\2C:K@?2^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@>>6?465 5C:==:?8k^2m @? E96 H6== ?62C #65 v2A #2?49 \\ H9:49 :E 42==D (6== }@] b @C $E2E6 ae\`] %96 r:EJ @7 u=28DE277 7:=65 2? 2AA=:42E:@? 7@C 2 E6>A@C2CJ C6DEC2:?:?8 @C56C 2?5 962C:?8 @? 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ :?;F?4E:@? :? r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ $FA6C:@C r@FCE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2K52:=JDF?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^4:EJ\@7\7=28DE277\7:=6D\@C56C\E@\DE@A\5C:==:?8\?62C\C65\82A\C2?49\4@>A2?J\32=<D^2CE:4=603bd432h6\hba6\d364\2e7c\a2_cf_64ca45]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@? s64] ``[ a_a_k^2m] $:?46 E96? E96C6 92G6 366? ?62C=J `d_ $FA6C:@C r@FCE 7:=:?8D :? E96 42D6]k^Am
kAm%96 42D6 H2D @C:8:?2==J 2DD:8?65 E@ yF586 r2E9=66? qC@H? }:49@=D[ H9@ C6E:C65 2E E96 6?5 @7 a_ac[ 2?5 E96? E@ yF586 t=2:?6 uC:5=F?5\w@C?6[ H9@ H:== C6E:C6 2E E96 6?5 @7 E9:D >@?E9] |@DE C646?E=J[ E96 42D6 H2D C62DD:8?65 E@ yF586 $E24J zCF686C]k^Am
kAm$:I @7 E96 D6G6? 4:EJ 4@F?4:= >6>36CD H9@ @C:8:?2==J 2AAC@G65 E96 =:E:82E:@? 2C6 ?@ =@?86C D6CG:?8 @? E92E 3@5J[ 2D @?=J pFDE:? pD=2? C6>2:?D] |@DE @7 s6D6CE |@F?E2:?’D 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD 92D 2=D@ 366? C6A=2465 D:?46 a_a_]k^Am
kAms6D6CE |@F?E2:? t?6C8J 92D A6E:E:@?65 E96 pC:K@?2 r@FCE @7 pAA62=D 7@FC E:>6D @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E96 =2HDF:E] %92E 4@FCE 564=:?65 E@ 2446AE ;FC:D5:4E:@? EH:46 3FE 2=D@ 28C665 E@ 2446AE ;FC:D5:4E:@? EH:46[ F=E:>2E6=J CF=:?8 :? 72G@C @7 s6D6CE |@F?E2:? @? 3@E9 @7 E9@D6 @442D:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 @C:8:?2= 4@?46C?D :? E96 42D6 H6C6 AC:>2C:=J 6?G:C@?>6?E2=] x? E96:C :?:E:2= 4@>A=2:?E[ $@=@>@? 2?5 @FED:56 4@F?D6= {66 p] $E@C6J 2C8F65 E92E E96 A=2??65 96=:F> H6== >:89E 4@?E2>:?2E6 E96 r@4@?:?@ pBF:76C \\ 7C@> H9:49 #65 v2A #2?49 H:== 6G6?EF2==J 5C2H 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C 7@C u=28DE277] s6D6CE |@F?E2:? 92D 4@?D:DE6?E=J 56?:65 E92E 2==682E:@?]k^Am
kAmu=28DE277’D =2HJ6CD 4=2:>65 E92E s6D6CE |@F?E2:?’D 5C:==:?8 A6C>:E H2D 5646AE:G6=J @3E2:?65 2?5 E92E E96 4@>A2?J ?66565 E@ 2AA=J 7@C 2? pBF:76C !C@E64E:@? !6C>:E 7C@> E96 pC:K@?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ]k^Am
kAm%96 4:EJ H@? 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ :?;F?4E:@? 62C=J :? a_a`[ 3FE E96 42D6 92D D:?46 DA:C2=65 2H2J 7C@> E9@D6 :?:E:2= 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@?46C?D] p7E6C E96 pC:K@?2 r@FCE @7 pAA62=D CF=65 :? a_aa E92E }:49@=D 925 �6CC65 :? 8C2?E:?8 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ :?;F?4E:@?[� s6D6CE |@F?E2:? 7:=65 2 4@F?E6C4=2:> 2==68:?8 E92E E96 u=28DE277 r:EJ r@F?4:= G:@=2E65 pC:K@?2’D @A6?\>66E:?8 =2HD H96? :E 7:CDE 2AAC@G65 E96 =:E:82E:@? :? 2 4=@D65 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@? \\ :? D9@CE[ 492==6?8:?8 E96 G2=:5:EJ @7 E96 6?E:C6 42D6]k^Am
kAm%92E 4@F?E6C4=2:> H2D E96 DF3;64E @7 E96 =2E6DE r@FCE @7 pAA62=D CF=:?8 =2DE >@?E9] x? 2 564:D:@? 2FE9@C65 3J yF586 |:4926= $] r2E=6EE[ 2 E9C66\;F586 A2?6= 28C665 E92E E96 u=28DE277 r:EJ r@F?4:= 72:=65 E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 E96 =2H H96? :E 2AAC@G65 =:E:82E:@? :? 2? 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@? 2?5 5:5 ?@E AC@>AE=J C2E:7J E96 2AAC@G2= :? 2? @A6? >66E:?8]k^Am
kAm“p AF3=:4 3@5J 42? 8@ :?E@ 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@? E@ E2=< H:E9 @C 4@?DF=E :ED 2EE@C?6JD H:E9@FE 2FE9@C:K:?8 :E] $:>:=2C=J[ 2 AF3=:4 3@5J 42? FD6 2? 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@? E@ :?DECF4E :ED 2EE@C?6JD @? =:E:82E:@? A@D:E:@?D[â€� r2E=6EE HC@E6] “qFE @?46 E96 AF3=:4 3@5J >2<6D 2 7:?2= 2?5 4@==64E:G6 564:D:@? E@ 2FE9@C:K6 =:E:82E:@?[ E92E :D 2 =682= 24E:@? C6BF:C:?8 2 AF3=:4 G@E6]â€k^Am
kAmr@F?4:=’D @C:8:?2= 564:D:@? E@@< A=246 :? 2? 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@? :? s646>36C a_a_] s6D6CE |@F?E2:? 7:=65 :ED 4@F?E6C4=2:> 2==68:?8 2 G:@=2E:@? @7 @A6?\>66E:?8 =2H :? $6AE6>36C a_aa[ 2?5 E96 4@F?4:= 5:5 ?@E AF3=:4=J G@E6 E@ C2E:7J E96 =:E:82E:@? F?E:= y2?F2CJ a_ab]k^Am
kAm&?56C pC:K@?2 DE2E6 =2H[ C2E:7:42E:@? @7 2 564:D:@? >256 :? 2? 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@? “D92== E2<6 A=246 2E 2 AF3=:4 >66E:?8 H:E9:? b_ 52JD 27E6C 5:D4@G6CJ @7 E96 G:@=2E:@? @C 27E6C DF49 5:D4@G6CJ D9@F=5 92G6 366? >256 3J E96 6I6C4:D6 @7 C62D@?23=6 5:=:86?46]â€k^Am
kAmx? E96 CF=:?8[ r2E=6EE ?@E6D E92E E96 u=28DE277 r:EJ r@F?4:= 4=2:>65 ?@E E@ 92G6 =62C?65 @7 s6D6CE |@F?E2:?’D 4@F?E6C4=2:> \\ 2?5 E96 A@DD:3=6 @A6?\>66E:?8 G:@=2E:@? \\ F?E:= y2?] `a[ a_ab]k^Am
kAmâ€�%92E 2C8F>6?E :D 4FC:@FD 4@?D:56C:?8 E96 4:EJ 2?DH6C65 E96 4@F?E6C4=2:> :? ~4E@36C a_aa[â€� r2E=6EE HC@E6] w6 25565 E92E E96 2C8F>6?E â€�2CE:7:4:2==J 5:DE:?8F:D96D 36EH66? E96 4:EJ 2?5 E96 4:EJ 4@F?4:=]â€k^Am
kAm}@C H6C6 E96 ;F586D DJ>A2E96E:4 E@ E96 DF886DE:@? E92E E96 4@F?4:= H2D =65 2DEC2J 3J :?4@CC64E =682= 25G:46 7C@> 2 4:EJ 2EE@C?6J] “x?5:G:5F2= >6>36CD @7 2 AF3=:4 3@5J >FDE 65F42E6 E96>D6=G6D 23@FE[ 2?5 E96? 7@==@H[ E96 @A6?\>66E:?8 =2H[� r2E=6EE HC@E6]k^Am
kAm%96 4:EJ’D A6E:E:@? E@ E96 pC:K@?2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE H2D ?@E C6G:6H65 5FC:?8 E92E 4@FCE’D >66E:?8 @? uC:52J[ pAC:= c]k^Am
kAmpD @7 %F6D52J[ 286?52D 7@C E96 4@FCE’D ?6IE >66E:?8 925 ?@E 366? AF3=:D965] %96 pC:K@?2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 92D 5:D4C6E:@? E@ 49@@D6 H9:49 42D6D :E 962CD[ 2?5 E96C6 :D ?@ 8F2C2?E66 E96 ;FDE:46D H:== 28C66 E@ C6G:6H E96 4:EJ’D 42D6]k^Am
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQmkDEC@?8m(92E 6=D6 92D 92AA6?65nk^DEC@?8mk^9cm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQms6D6CE |@F?E2:? 92D ?@E J6E DF4466565 :? 6IEC24E:?8 96=:F> 7C@> pC:K@?2 =2?5D] x? :ED 2??F2= :?7@C>2E:@? 7@C>[ E96 4@>A2?J DE2E65[ “p== A=2??65 5C:==:?8 @A6C2E:@?D :? E96 w@=3C@@< q2D:? H2D ,D:4. 92=E65[ 3FE E96 4@>A2?J 4@?E:?F65 E@ H@C< H:E9 E96 pC:K@?2 C68F=2E@CJ 2FE9@C:E:6D 2D E96J >@5:7J 2?5 56G6=@A E96 DE2E6 C68F=2E:@?D DA64:7:4 E@ E96 96=:F> :?5FDECJ]” %96 4@>A2?J :D 324<:?8 EH@ 3:==D :? E96 DE2E6 {68:D=2EFC6 E92E H@F=5 8C2?E 96=:F> 6IA=@C2E:@? 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? H6==D 2 ?62C\42E68@C:42= 6I6>AE:@? 7C@> E96 DE2E6’D pBF:76C !C@E64E:@? !6C>:E AC@46DD] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpC:K@?2 $6?2E6 q:== `ccc H@F=5 255 96=:F> H6==D E@ E96 =:DE @7 724:=:E:6D 4@?D:56C65 E@ A@D6 �?@ C62D@?23=6 AC@323:=:EJ @7 568C252E:@? @7 E96 2BF:76C� D@ =@?8 2D E9@D6 H6==D 2C6 �56D:8?65[ 4@?DECF4E65[ @A6C2E65 2?5 >2:?E2:?65 ?@E E@ 5:D492C86 2 4@?E2>:?2?E]� p?5 pC:K@?2 $q `fbb H@F=5 5@ E96 D2>6[ H9:=6 2=D@ D6A2C2E:?8 E96 DE2E6’D ~:= 2?5 v2D r@?D6CG2E:@? r@>>:DD:@? \\ H9:49 C68F=2E6D 96=:F> AC@5F4E:@? \\ 7C@> E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq@E9 3:==D A2DD65 E96 DE2E6 $6?2E6 @? A2CE:D2? =:?6D[ H:E9 #6AF3=:42?D :? 72G@C 2?5 s6>@4C2ED @AA@D65] %96J 92G6 366? C676CC65 E@ w@FD6 4@>>:EE66D 3FE 92G6 ?@E J6E C646:G65 2?J G@E6D 3J E96 w@FD6 2D 2 H9@=6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq29C D2:5 E96 $:6CC2 r=F3 @AA@D6D 2?J 6I6>AE:@?D E@ E96 A6C>:EE:?8 AC@46DD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“pC:K@?2’D 2BF:76C AC@E64E:@? A6C>:E AC@8C2> :D 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 AC@8C2>[ 56DA:E6 E96 724E E92E E96 >:?6D 2?5 @E96CD 92G6 A@<65 9@=6D :? :E @G6C E96 J62CD[� D96 D2:5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq29C 25565i â€�*@F ?665 E@ 56>@?DEC2E6 E92E J@F’C6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 92C> @FC H2E6C] *@F ?665 E@ 5@ E92E FA 7C@?E 367@C6 J@F 5@ 2?JE9:?8[ 2?5 :7 J@F 42?’E 5@ E92E[ E96? J@F D9@F=5?’E 36 5@:?8 :E] %92E’D E96 3@EE@> =:?6[â€Â k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(9:=6 s6D6CE |@F?E2:? D66<D E@ D>@@E9 E96 H2J 7@C :ED 96=:F> 2>3:E:@?D :? pC:K@?2[ :E 92D D9:7E65 :ED :>>65:2E6 7@4FD E@ :?4C62D:?8 C6G6?F6 7C@> E96 (6DE !64@D $=@A6 p3@ v2D u:6=5 :? }6H |6I:4@[ H96C6 :E :D 6IEC24E:?8 3@E9 96=:F> 2?5 ?2EFC2= 82D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 4@>A2?J �:D 56A6?56?E @? 6IE6C?2= 7:?2?4:?8 E@ 7F?5 :ED 24E:G:E:6D� 2?5 �92D ?@E J6E 249:6G65 AC@7:E23=6 @A6C2E:@?D[� :E ?@E65 :? 2? x?E6C:> u:?2?4:2= #6A@CE AF3=:D965 2E E96 6?5 @7 u63CF2CJ] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“pD @7 s646>36C b`[ a_ac[ E96 4@>A2?J � 92D 244F>F=2E65 =@DD6D @7 Sdb[agf[f`e D:?46 :?46AE:@? 2?5 6IA64ED E@ :?4FC 255:E:@?2= =@DD6D :? E96 56G6=@A>6?E @7 :ED 3FD:?6DD[� E92E C6A@CE DE2E65]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|62?H9:=6[ E96 4:EJ 92D 4@?E:?F65 E@ 56G6=@A :ED A=2?D 7@C #65 v2A #2?49] |@DE ?@E23=J[ E96 C2?49 :D @?6 6=6>6?E @7 E96 AC@A@D65 }@CE962DE6C? pC:K@?2 x?5:2? (2E6C #:89ED $6EE=6>6?E p4E W}px(#$pX[ F?56C H9:49 E96 4:EJ’D A=2??65 5C:?<:?8 H2E6C A:A6=:?6 7C@> E96 C2?49 H@F=5 2=D@ DFAA=J H2E6C E@ E96 }2G2;@ 2?5 w@A: EC:36D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 92DÂ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2K52:=JDF?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^7=28DE277\2AAC@G6D\EC:32=\H2E6C\C:89ED\D6EE=6>6?E\D64FC6D\4:EJ\H2E6C\@77:4:2=D\D2J\7@C\7FEFC6^2CE:4=60ddbe3_6_\bhhd\``67\ga35\`f`fh7dcc44b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmF?2?:>@FD=J 6?5@CD65k^2m E96 D6EE=6>6?E :? yF=J a_ac[ 3FE }px(#$p C6BF:C6D 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 2AAC@G2=]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$6?D] |2C< z6==J 2?5 #F36? v2==68@ C6:?EC@5F465 }px(#$p :? E96 4FCC6?E &]$] r@?8C6DD @? |2C49 ``[ 27E6C :E 72:=65 E@ A2DD @FE @7 4@>>:EE66 962C:?8D :? 6:E96C E96 $6?2E6 @C w@FD6 =2DE J62C]k^Am
