A group of Western Shoshone tribes were back in court on Thursday to stop the expansion of a gold mine at the sacred Mount Tenabo.

The South Fork Band Council of Western Shoshone, the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe and the Western Shoshone Defense Project obtained a preliminary injunction in December 2009 that said the Bureau of Land Management didn't adequately consider the environmental impacts of the expansion. Tribal leaders and members attended yesterday's hearing in Reno, Nevada.

"We have great concerns when large corporations and the federal government can trample our natural resources," Bryan Cassadore, the chairman of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone, told the Associated Press

The Obama administration and Barrick Gold Corporation, a Canadian corporation, are seeking to lift the injunction. They say a new analysis has been prepared to address the shortcomings.

Judge Larry Hicks didn't issue a decision but said he was aware of the "sensitive" nature of the case, the AP reported.

Get the Story:
Judge considers lifting order tribe won to block big Nevada gold mine; some say site sacred (AP 10/6)

9th Circuit Decision:
South Fork Band Council of Western Shoshone of Nevada v. DOI (December 3, 2009)

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9th Circuit to consider injunction for sacred site (6/8)
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Judge won't block mine near Western Shoshone site (1/27)
Tribes ask Supreme Court to hear sacred site case (01/06)
Judge hears Western Shoshone suit against mine (12/02)
Western Shoshones sue Interior over gold mine (11/24)