Shoshone Tribe Sues To Stop Development of Nevada Gold Mine

Last Thursday, three Shoshone Indian tribal groups and two environmental organizations filed suit in a Nevada federal district court to stop development of a large open-pit gold mine on Mt. Tenabo. Yesterday's Environment News Service reports that the Bureau of Land Management approved the $500 million Cortez Hills Expansion Project after years of Shoshone opposition. (Full text of BLM environmental impact statement).The lawsuit alleges that the project will destroy land "well-known for its spiritual and cultural importance to the Western Shoshone" and "home to local Shoshone creation stories, spirit life, medicinal, food and ceremonial plants and items." Plaintiffs say the land "continues to be used to this day by Shoshone for spiritual and cultural practices." Some Western Shoshone communities however support the project, having entered a collaborative agreement with mine developers who will set up a Western Shoshone Educational Legacy Fund tied to revenue from the mine.