The Fort Mojave Tribe filed a new lawsuit to protect one of its most sacred sites.

The tribe says the California Department of Toxic Substances Control is violating a settlement that was reached in 2006. The tribe says the state has failed to remove and clean up a $15 million water treatment plant built on top of Topock Maze, a series of rock formations and lines that is considered the portal into heaven.

The plant is operated by Pacific Gas & Electric, which apologized in 2006 for harming the sacred site.

"Instead of the polluter paying for the damage, it'll end up being the tribe's religious practices and cultural values that take the hit and that's not right," tribal attorney Courtney Ann Coyle told the Associated Press. "PG&E and DTSC can do better."

Get the Story:
Calif tribe files lawsuit to protect ancient maze (AP 3/3)

Related Stories:
Victory for Fort Mojave sacred site in California (11/10)