Campaign to protect sacred lake in N.M. ramps up

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2003

Members of New Mexico's Congressional delegation urged the Bush administration on Tuesday to temporarily stop work on a massive coal mine, citing new evidence that suggests a sacred site may be damaged.

In a letter to the Department of Interior, the lawmakers asked acting Bureau of Indian Affairs chief Aurene Martin and Rebecca Watson, the assistant secretary for land and minerals management, to suspend activity at the Fence Lake Mine. Pending studies, they said, demonstrate that the mine will have an impact on water levels at Zuni Salt Lake, considered sacred to a number of tribes in the Southwest.

"Given that these ongoing developments may cause DOI to modify the [mine] plan, a moratorium which stays any further activity with respect to Fence Lake Mine until these hydrologic findings can be verified and analyzed appears to be appropriate," wrote Reps. Steve Pearce (R) and Tom Udall (D), and Sens. Pete Domenici (R) and Jeff Bingaman (D).

The request supports new claims from Zuni Pueblo, which uses the lake for ceremonial purposes. The tribe believes the 18,000-acre strip mine will draw water away from the lake, forever destroying an important religious site.

Last summer, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton approved plans for the 18,000-acre development, located just 10 miles away from the lake. Salt River Project, an Arizona utility company, needs to pump groundwater as part of its efforts but was told to stay away from the Dakota Aquifer because Zuni Pueblo successfuly demonstrated that use of the aquifer will harm the lake.

SRP is also required to conduct additional tests regarding the Atarque Aquifer. New studies by Zuni Pueblo indicate that use of this water source will impact the lake, the lawmakers said in their letter.

The issue is currently being debated before New Mexico's Mining and Mineral Division, which is overseeing the Atarque tests. The tribe believes the work is being done improperly, a contention refuted by SRP and state officials, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported yesterday.

Zuni Salt Lake is gaining national attention as part of a campaign to protect sacred sites throughout the country. Last month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the lake and surrounding areas on its annual list of most endangered places, citing threats from the Fence Lake Mine.

SRP is depending on the mine to deliver power to consumers in Phoenix and other Western cities. The company has agreed to follow the conditions imposed by federal and state officials.

In the fight to protect the lake, Zuni Pueblo is joined by the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, the Ramah Band of the Navajo Nation and the All Indian Pueblo Council, which represents 19 Pueblos in New Mexico.

The lake is considered a central part of Zuni religion. Tribal members use salt collected there for ceremonial and domestic use.

The lake and surrounding areas are a mix of tribal, private, state and federally-owned lands. SRP needs full approval from the Department of Interior and the state of New Mexico to proceed with development.

From the 2003 Most Endangered List:
Zuni Salt Lake and Sanctuary Zone (May 2003)