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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2001

Secretary Gale Norton will approve a mine opposed by Zuni Pueblo of New Mexico, an environmental group said on Tuesday.

Salt River Project of Arizona wants state and federal authorization to open a strip mining operation about 12 miles away from Zuni Salt Lake. Considered sacred by the Pueblo, the tribe fears development will drain the lake of water.

Norton will approve the mine today, said the Sacred Land Film Project of California and a lawyer for the tribe. Paul Bloom said he met with Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb yesterday to discuss the issue.

The group also said Norton is being pressured to reverse a decision to close lands in California to mining. The Quechan Nation opposed development and former Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt agreed to deny a gold mine permit to a California company, who has filed a lawsuit.

When asked by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) about the project, Norton during her confirmation hearings declined to answer whether she would uphold Babbitt's decision.

Get the Story:
Agency to consider coal-mining project (The Santa Fe New Mexican 10/24)

Relevant Links:
Sacred Land Film Project - http://www.sacredland.org

More on Zuni Salt Lake:
Bingaman writes Norton about mining near Zuni lake (10/4)
Mine near sacred lake raises concern (9/18)
Zuni Pueblo fighting mine approval (8/29)
Mine developer hopes for approval (6/26)
Pueblo promises lawsuit against mine (6/25)
Mine near sacred lake debated (6/22)
Zuni Pueblo battling coal mine (6/11)

More on Quechan Mine:
Norton confirmed by 'landslide' (1/31)
Babbitt denies Calif. gold mine (1/19)
BLM recommends mine rejection (11/10)