 |
| Ha ‘Kamwe is a hot spring sacred to the Hualapai Tribe in Northern Arizona. An Australian company is threatening the spring with a proposed lithium mining project. (Ash Ponders for Earthjustice) |
Federal Court Orders Freeze to Drilling on Hualapai Land in Northern Arizona
Victory — The Tribe is suing BLM to protect their sacred hot spring from mining
By Earthjustice, Censored News, August 21, 2024
Timna Axel taxel@earthjustice.org
PHOENIX, Arizona — A federal district court judge has granted a temporary restraining order sought by the Hualapai Tribe to freeze a lithium drilling operation that is endangering their lands, including a sacred medicinal spring called Ha’Kamwe’ in the Big Sandy River watershed. The Tribe, represented by Earthjustice and Western Mining Action Project, sued the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management earlier this month, after the federal agencies approved a plan to drill over 100 holes reaching depths of 360 feet into the aquifer that feeds Ha’Kamwe’.
Duane Clarke, Chairman of the Hualapai Tribe, said: “Today our people celebrate the granting of the temporary restraining order, but understand our fight is not over. We will continue to bring awareness to the protection of our water.”
Tribal members today use Ha’Kamwe’, also called Cofer Hot Springs, for important ceremonial and cultural purposes. Its waters are fed by the Big Sandy River and other nearby aquifers that could be severely and permanently damaged by drilling.
PHOENIX, Arizona — A federal district court judge has granted a temporary restraining order sought by the Hualapai Tribe to freeze a lithium drilling operation that is endangering their lands, including a sacred medicinal spring called Ha’Kamwe’ in the Big Sandy River watershed. The Tribe, represented by Earthjustice and Western Mining Action Project, sued the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management earlier this month, after the federal agencies approved a plan to drill over 100 holes reaching depths of 360 feet into the aquifer that feeds Ha’Kamwe’.
Duane Clarke, Chairman of the Hualapai Tribe, said: “Today our people celebrate the granting of the temporary restraining order, but understand our fight is not over. We will continue to bring awareness to the protection of our water.”
Tribal members today use Ha’Kamwe’, also called Cofer Hot Springs, for important ceremonial and cultural purposes. Its waters are fed by the Big Sandy River and other nearby aquifers that could be severely and permanently damaged by drilling.
Hualapai community members are currently camping at Cholla Ranch and Ha’Kamwe’ to raise awareness of the threats facing the area.
The Hualapai Tribe has voiced its concerns to environmental agencies since 2019, when Australian mining company Arizona Lithium began exploration activities in the area. Instead of working to address the Tribe’s concerns, BLM approved the Sandy Valley Lithium Exploration Project on June 6, which would allow the company to drill and test up to 131 exploration holes across 21 acres of BLM-managed public land with an eye towards a future full-scale mine.
“Like other Tribal Nations who for centuries have stewarded the lands across this country, the Hualapai people are under siege by mining interests trying to make a buck off destroying their cultural heritage,” said Earthjustice Attorney Laura Berglan. “We are in court because of the federal government’s failure to protect Tribal rights.”
In addition to the temporary restraining order, the Tribe is also seeking a preliminary injunction, which would extend the pause on drilling for the duration of the legal case. The court will hold a hearing on that motion on Tuesday, September 17.
Read more:
Australians Rush to Mine Lithium in Hualapai's Sacred Place, a Navajo Enterprise is Leading the Desecration, by Censored News
Vern Lund, CEO of Navajo Transitional Energy Company, a Navajo tribal enterprise, signed an agreement with Lithium Americas to be in charge of the drilling and operation.
Federal Court Blocks Lithium Mine Near Hualapai Sacred Site, For Now
by Shondiin Silversmith, Arizona Mirror
"Arizona Lithium is not a direct party in the Hualapai Tribe’s lawsuit, but it filed a motion to intervene with the case. Judge Diane Humetewa approved the motion earlier this week, allowing the company to intervene and defend against the tribe’s pursuit to stop the project.
"BLM’s approval of the Big Sandy Valley Project allows the mining company to drill and test up to 131 exploration holes across 21 acres of BLM-managed public land to determine whether a full-scale lithium mining operation could be viable."
No comments:
Post a Comment