Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2002

The Quechan Nation is preparing to fight a gold mine on sacred land in California although the Bush administration claims its reversal of a legal opinion that prevented the development doesn't necessarily mean the project will be approved.

The Department of Interior in October 2001 rescinded a solicitor's opinion drafted by the Clinton administration. The opinion had paved the way for former Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt to refuse mining proposed by Glamis Gold Ltd.

But while Interior spokesperson Mark Pfeifle told The New York Times the opinion was "baseless," he said the company would still have to clear a number of hurdles. Thirty-one members of Congress have asked Secretary Norton not to approve the mine.

In an editorial column, Charles Levendosky of The San Jose Mercury News criticizes Norton for the affair. "Apparently it doesn't matter to Norton that the proposed mine would destroy American Indian sacred sites, cultural artifacts, trail networks, petroglyphs, ancestral grounds and 55 archaeological sites eligible for the National Register of Historic Places," he writes.

Get the Story:
Levendosky: Selling out Native Americans, once again (The San Jose Mercury News 1/6)
Tribe Prepares for Renewed Fight Over Gold Mine (The New York Times 1/7)
You may have to register to read New York Times stories. If you do not wish to register, login with username indianz.com and password indianz.com

Relevant Links:
Office of the Solicitor - http://www.ost.doi.gov/sol
Glamis - http://www.glamis.com

Related Stories:
Boxer to fight Norton on mine (11/1)
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)