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Hualapai march outside the federal court in Phoenix. The tribe sued the Department of Interior's BLM for illegally approving a plan to drill test holes for lithium and endanger the sacred hot spring called Ha’Kamwe.' (Ash Ponders for Earthjustice)
In a Major Win for Hualapai Tribe, Judge Extends Drilling Freeze
Victory — Arizona Lithium must pause activity near Ha’Kamwe’ until lawsuit plays out
By Earthjustice, Censored News, Nov. 6, 2024
PHOENIX, Arizona — A federal judge yesterday decided to extend a temporary pause on harmful drilling for the duration of the Hualapai Tribe’s legal case challenging federal approval of the Sandy Valley Lithium Exploration Project.
The Tribe won a temporary restraining order when it sued the Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for wrongfully approving a plan that could permanently damage its lands and waters, including the sacred hot spring of Ha’Kamwe’.
“I feel a huge sense of relief today, but we know this is not the end of the story,” said Chairman Duane Clarke of the Hualapai Tribe. “Our people have used Ha’Kamwe’ for centuries for healing, prayer, and rites of passage. We are absolutely determined to protect our sacred waters and our way of life from those who would destroy it to enrich themselves.”
The Hualapai Tribe has voiced its concerns to environmental agencies since 2019, when an Australian company Hawkstone Mining began exploration activities in the area. The company’s local subsidiary, Arizona Lithium, now proposes to drill more than 100 holes reaching depths of 360 feet into the aquifer that feeds Ha’Kamwe’.
“We’re glad the court rejected BLM’s 19th century mindset, that the company gets whatever they want at the expense of Indigenous communities,” said Laura Berglan, Senior Attorney for Earthjustice. “BLM should have considered alternatives with less impact on Ha’Kamwe’, like drilling fewer wells or moving them farther from the spring.”
During a court hearing in September, the Hualapai Tribe represented by Earthjustice and Western Mining Action Project asked the judge to extend the court-ordered temporary pause by granting a preliminary injunction. The court’s ruling means that drilling cannot resume while the lawsuit moves forward.
“The Court correctly realized the threat to groundwater and sacred Ha’Kamwe’. Water is too precious in Arizona for the agency to ignore,” noted Roger Flynn of the Western Mining Action Project.
Hualapai community members have been camping in Cholla Canyon Ranch, near Ha’Kamwe’, to raise awareness and to protest the mining company’s activities.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
About the Rocky Mountain Office
About the Tribal Partnerships Program
ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
“I feel a huge sense of relief today, but we know this is not the end of the story,” said Chairman Duane Clarke of the Hualapai Tribe. “Our people have used Ha’Kamwe’ for centuries for healing, prayer, and rites of passage. We are absolutely determined to protect our sacred waters and our way of life from those who would destroy it to enrich themselves.”
The Hualapai Tribe has voiced its concerns to environmental agencies since 2019, when an Australian company Hawkstone Mining began exploration activities in the area. The company’s local subsidiary, Arizona Lithium, now proposes to drill more than 100 holes reaching depths of 360 feet into the aquifer that feeds Ha’Kamwe’.
“We’re glad the court rejected BLM’s 19th century mindset, that the company gets whatever they want at the expense of Indigenous communities,” said Laura Berglan, Senior Attorney for Earthjustice. “BLM should have considered alternatives with less impact on Ha’Kamwe’, like drilling fewer wells or moving them farther from the spring.”
During a court hearing in September, the Hualapai Tribe represented by Earthjustice and Western Mining Action Project asked the judge to extend the court-ordered temporary pause by granting a preliminary injunction. The court’s ruling means that drilling cannot resume while the lawsuit moves forward.
“The Court correctly realized the threat to groundwater and sacred Ha’Kamwe’. Water is too precious in Arizona for the agency to ignore,” noted Roger Flynn of the Western Mining Action Project.
Hualapai community members have been camping in Cholla Canyon Ranch, near Ha’Kamwe’, to raise awareness and to protest the mining company’s activities.
CONTACTS
Timna Axel, (773) 828-0712, taxel@earthjustice.org
Timna Axel, (773) 828-0712, taxel@earthjustice.org
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
About the Rocky Mountain Office
About the Tribal Partnerships Program
ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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An Australian Company Rushes to Mine Lithium in Hualapai's Sacred Place, a Navajo Enterprise is Leading the Desecration
by Censored News
While Australians were sipping wine, and investing in this desecration, the company, Hawkstone Mining of Australia, hired the CEO of a Navajo tribal enterprise, to lead the drilling and desecration.
Federal Judge Diane Humetewa, Hopi, in Phoenix, is the first federal judge to halt this run away train of lithium mining in Native sacred places.
Deb Haaland played a good game until now.
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