Press release here:
Today the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation announced it has filed an appeal of the BLM’s April 7, 2015 Record of Decision approving Newmont Mining Company’s Long Canyon Mine east of Wells, Nevada, and located in the heart of the Tribe’s archaeological cultural area. The massive open-pit mine would permanently destroy or remove thousands of Tribal cultural resources.
“The Long Canyon Mine area is a vitally important part of our cultural history and its destruction will erase a critical part of who we are as a people,” said Zelda Johnny, a Tribal Cultural Monitor and Tribal Council Vice-Chair.
The 45-page Tribal appeal is supported by documents showing the BLM refused to share known information about Tribal cultural items in the area and that the BLM insisted the Tribe waive legal claims in order to have access to the BLM’s Tribal information.
“How can our Tribe evaluate the impact of this proposed mine when the BLM would not give us access to the information about our historical ties to the site?” said Tribal Chairwoman Madeline Greymountain.
The administrative appeal is a required first step in the appeal process. “The Tribe is committed to forcing the BLM to follow the law and allow the Tribe a full and fair opportunity to participate in the federal review process before this special place and tribal artifacts are permanently destroyed forever. The BLM has failed its trust responsibility in this case,” said Paul Echo Hawk, Tribal Attorney.
For more information on April 7, 2015 Record of Decision and Long Canyon Mine Project:
http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html
Appeal materials here:
2015-05-05 Notice of Appeal and Statement of Reasons – Filed
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