The Swiss Environment Ministry said on Friday it would investigate the
use and effect of chemicals which help preserve snow on ski runs in high
temperatures. "It wants to gain an overview of this practice in
Switzerland: where, when and what quantities of auxiliary products are
used to prepare pistes and what are the effects of these products on the
environment," the Environment Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said it would then decide what measures, if any, to take
against the use of such products.
The ministry said it was not concentrating on the world-famous
Lauberhorn run in Wengen, where last weekend's World Cup races were only
able to go ahead because the resort used artificial snow and chemicals
to preserve the piste.
(
Planet Ark, 22/01/2007)