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SAVE THE PEAKS, STOP THE MINE!AN UPDATE ON THE SIERRA CLUB'S EFFORTS TO SHUT DOWN THE WHITE VULCAN PUMICE MINE ON THE SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS Bruce Babbitt takes action: True to his word, Babbitt shuts down the White Vulcan Mine Pumice Mine calling it a "sacrilege"
April 25th Secretary of the Interior Babbitt stands at the edge of the White Vulcan Pumice Mine with Tribal Leaders and Flagstaff Activists to call for its closure. Sierra Club member and Navajo activist Sammy M. James presents Secretary Babbitt over 600 letters calling for the Mine's closure. Upon hearing about Babbitt’s action Sammy said, "I only hope more politicians would take action like Babbitt. He made an example of leading with a good heart. By saving one of our sacred places, it inspires us to protect other sacred places as well."
The Sierra Club and Native American activists hailed a settlement agreement to shut down the White Vulcan Pumice Mine and restore the San Francisco Peaks. The agreement between the mine owners and the federal government was signed on Monday, August 28th at the mine site near Flagstaff by Interior representative Mark Squillace, Undersecretary of Agriculture Jim Lyons and the mine owners. The settlement between Tufflite, Inc., owners of the mine and the Federal government came a few months after Babbitt visited the mine site and called the mine "a sacrilege." The settlement includes:
Although the mine would continue to haul off a stockpile of pumice already pulled out of the mountain, the settlement is seen as a victory and a result of effective organizing by both environmental and tribal activists. "This settlement is the first step in the healing process for the Peaks," said Andy Bessler, Sierra Club's organizer. "We look forward to helping in the reclamation effort and will continue to monitor the mine to make sure the Peaks are restored." "The Sierra Club welcomes this settlement, but we cannot stop our efforts. The 1872 Mining Law allowed this desecration to continue unchecked for years. As long as this law is on the books, other special places like the Peaks are under threat," Bessler added. Just a few months ago, the mine was threatening to expand their operations. But after unified opposition from the Sierra Club and tribal activists formed around rallies and concerts calling for the mine's closure, settlement talks began. The Forest Service and Department of Interior received over 6000 written comments asking that the mine be shut down. The Sierra Club is also in favor of other federal actions to protect the Peaks. The Forest Service recommended to Secretary Babbitt a 74,000-acre mineral withdrawal around the Peaks, which would prevent any new mining claims for 20 years. In addition, the Club supports the nomination of the Peaks as a Traditional Cultural Property to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of the Peaks' central role to the traditional cultures of Native Americans. "This settlement shows that the federal government is responding to the public call to protect the special places on our public lands and not let them be sacrificed to extractive industries like mining and logging," Bessler added. A Tale of Grassroots Activism, more Save the Peaks updates...
Andy Bessler, Conservation Organizer, Save the Peaks Campaign Updated 10-8-00 Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd, Suite 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 253-8633 |
