I've been gone for a while but like all pains in the butt, I'm keeping you informed. By the way, I will start dredging this week end if the weather clears a bit. Keep your pans from getting dry. Stan

CA PFUSA - Very controversial issue. At the get go, I want to emphasize we are worried about equity of use and due process. We are not anti-Native American and have good relationships with tribes in other parts of the state. We have a CA PFUSA position supporting these guys down in Imperial County. Glamis Gold sent out this press release to explain why they filed a lawsuit against the federal government. In a nutshell, the Interior Department has said they want to apply a new standard (undue impairment) to evaluate a mining plan. There is no regulation, law, or other authority for this new standard (i.e. who knows what it means???)

Additionally, the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has asked BLM to deny approval for this project ("take whatever legal means available") because the ACHP says there is nothing Glamis could do in the way of mitigation to offset the loss of native american values for this mining project. The area identified by the tribe is way more than the project site. The "values" are for the area in a general sense (one quarter mile of a "spirit trail" that has been impacted by highways and other developments) and did not surface until 1996. Evidence of rock rings, chipping stations, and scattered chips are found but are considered common throughout the SW. The Tribe relinquished their land to the federal government and received payment for it about 40 years ago. Tribal members agree there was no active use of the lands for the last 50 years.

The implication for all users of the desert (where most of the land is already closed off in wilderness, ACEC.s or endangered species habitat) and other public lands is that Native American values take precedence. CA tribes have historical use all over the state. Please let me know if you need more information.