Features

Indian cultural and religious sites on the edge of Arizona would be irreparably harmed by putting an open-pit gold mine near them, said Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt in announcing he was killing the project. 

Babbitt’s action Wednesday blocked Glamis Gold Ltd. of Reno, Nev., from opening the mine on 1,571 acres of Bureau of Land Management property about 45 miles northwest of El Centro, Calif. Angry company officials said they would try to reverse the decision in court. 

The National Mining Association called the decision “outrageous” and said it would deny Imperial County 120 well-paying jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefit. 

“We are very disappointed that the outgoing administration has abandoned the domestic mining industry,” said Kevin McArthur, Glamis’ president. 

The Quechan Tribe, whose reservation sits near the proposed mine, was jubilant. 

“No amount of gold – whatever they pay, whatever it costs – will take the place of history,” said a tearful Quechan President Mike Jackson. “History was saved.” 

The tribe said the project would harm archaeological remains such as rock carvings, ceremonial circles and trails across the volcanic desert terrain. The so-called spirit trails, which connect sacred sites, have been used for thousands of years. 

The company, which had spent $1 million trying to mitigate the Indians’ concerns, argued that the decision was based on what it said was an erroneous ruling earlier this month by Interior Solicitor John Leshy.  

He determined that under a 1976 mining law Babbitt has veto power over projects at odds with Indian historical or ceremonial lands. 

Babbitt said his decision represented the first mine rejection under that law, which allows denial of mining permits for “undue degradation” to the environment. 

“I think this is in fact a momentous occasion,” Babbitt said.  

“No administration has ever taken these recommendations seriously, but I do.” 

He said his decision was based on the proposal to remove 450 million tons of rock and ore from a 21/2-square-mile area, then rinse the ore with cyanide to obtain about 50 file boxes worth of gold. 

He held up a box to illustrate what he described as just a small amount of gold that would be recovered. 

Glamis, which has spent more than $14 million developing the project, estimated the mine would yield 1.1 million ounces of gold worth about $300 million. 

On the Net: 

Bureau of Land Management report: http://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro/imperial—project.html 

Glamis Imperial Corp.: http://www.glamis.com