The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have put a geothermal project near the sacred Medicine Lake in northern California on hold.

Calpine Corporation was set to begin work on two geothermal electrical generating plants near Medicine Lake. Several tribes use the lake for ceremonies.

But objections raised by the Telephone Flat Geothermal Project Oversight Committee prompted the two agencies to seek further review of the project. Members of the committee, made up of tribes and local groups, said they were concerned about impacts on the environment.

Get the Story:
Geothermal project put on hold (The Mt. Shasta News 10/5)

Court Decision:
Pit River Tribe v. BLM (February 13, 2004)

Relevant Documents:
Proposed Geothermal Development Project for Medicine Lake Highlands - Records of Decision (Bureau of Land Management [note: does not include reversal of decisions])

Relevant Links:
Medicine Lake Video - http://www.medicinelakevideo.org
Medicine Lake Information - http://www.sacredland.org/medicine_lake.html
Calpine Corporation - http://www.calpine.com

Related Stories:
Company confident on future for plant near sacred lake (06/04)
Company suspends projects affecting sacred sites (05/27)
Judge won't block drilling near sacred site in Calif. (03/11)
Lawsuit seeks to stop drilling in sacred Mount Shasta (10/20)
Calif. tribes oppose power plant (07/17)