Judge won't block mine near Western Shoshone site

Environment | Law

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

A federal judge on Monday refused to grant a preliminary injunction against a gold mine in Nevada that would impact sacred Western Shoshone sites.

A group of tribal and environmental plaintiffs sued the Interior Department to block construction of one of the largest gold mines in the U.S. They want to protect Mount Tenabo, a sacred site.

But Judge Larry Hicks said tribal members will be able to access the site even if Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada proceeds with construction. He said his decision was based on precedent set by 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the San Francisco Peaks case, which tribes are taking to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The plaintiffs include the South Fork Band Council of Western Shoshone, the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, the Western Shoshone Defense Project and Great Basin Resource Watch.

Get the Story:
Nevada federal judge refuses to grant injunction to halt Cortez Hills gold project (MineWeb 1/27)
Tribal Attempt to Halt Nevada Gold Mine Fails in Court (ENS 1/26)
Barrick can proceed with Nevada mine, judge rules (Reuters 1/26)
Judge refuses to halt huge Nevada gold mine (AP 1/26)