Facebook Twitter Email
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2001

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) plans on doing everything she can to stop Secretary of Interior Gale Norton from allowing a gold mine on sacred sacred, The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday.

Norton and her top legal official Bill Myers have rescinded a legal opinion authored during the Clinton administration that provided the basis for shutting down the mine proposal. Former Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt said the mine would destroy land sacred to the Quechan Tribe, which is based in Arizona.

During Norton's confirmation proceedings, Boxer specifically asked about the project, to be located in Imperial County in California. Norton did not provide a specific answer, only saying she would work with Boxer on the issue.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) also asked Norton about her view of mining laws that Babbitt used to stop development on sacred land. Norton again passed on an answer.

Norton has since written Congress, asking to reform the laws, and has offered new mining regulations. These two actions, say environmentalists, reverse significant protections.

Get the Story:
Hot Spot in Battle Over Mining (The Los Angeles Times 10/31)

Get the Leshy Opinion:
M-36999: Regulation of Hardrock Mining (December 27, 1999)

Get the Babbitt Decision:
Record of Decision for the Imperial Project Gold Mine Proposal Imperial County, California (January 2001)

Indianz.Com Profile:
Solicitor: Bill G. Myers (3/30)

Relevant Links:
Office of the Solicitor - http://www.ost.doi.gov/sol
Glamis - http://www.glamis.com
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation - http://www.achp.gov

Related Stories:
Company welcomes Myers reversal (10/26)
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)
Norton confirmed by 'landslide' (1/31)
Babbitt denies Calif. gold mine (1/19)
BLM recommends mine rejection (11/10)