The Tohono O'odham Nation filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday aimed at stopping a $35 million telescope project atop the sacred Kitt Peak.

The lawsuit says the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution failed to seek the tribe's approval for the construction of four telescopes. The tribe says the project will destroy the spiritual nature of Kitt Peak.

The peak is located within reservation boundaries but the tribe signed a perpetual lease with the National Science Foundation. The tribe is threatening to cancel the lease.

Get the Story:
Tribe fights Kitt Peak project (The Arizona Republic 3/24)
O'odham sue to halt scope construction on Kitt Peak (The Arizona Daily Star 3/24)
Tribe sues National Science Foundation over telescope construction in Arizona (AP 3/24)
Tribe sues to stop telescope (The Tucson Citizen 3/24)

Relevant Links:
Coronado National Forest - http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado

Related Stories:
Tribal land eyed as new telescope site (06/27)
U.S. won't allow telescopes near sweat lodge (04/23)
Ariz. groups fight approval of telescope project (03/20)
Permit OKed for telescope near sweat lodge (01/17)