PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 2007 For More Information: John Lewis, ITC of AZ, 602-258-4822 Alexander Ritchie, WMT, 928-338-2534 Sarah Luna, ACP, 480-205-3809 20 ARIZONA TRIBES ENDORSE MINING LAW REFORM (Phoenix, Arizona) The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, representing 20 Arizona Tribes, has passed a Resolution endorsing H.R. 2262, comprehensive mining law reform legislation, to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 31, 2007. A member tribe, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, previously adopted its own Resolution endorsing the legislation underscoring the significance of the issue to Arizona tribal communities. The Resolutions emphasize tribal concerns about the impact of the 1872 Mining Law on tribal lands specifically and on the natural resources of Western Regions generally. [The outdated mining law] "does not protect the historical, treaty and spiritual relationship American Indians have with federal lands managed by the United States...hardrock mining has significantly threatened natural resources throughout Western Regions polluting 40% of surface waterways and an undetermined amount of groundwater as well as contaminating the land and the air ?the 1872 mining law contains no federal or tribal environmental standards or reclamation criteria, compounded by other federal laws not addressing specific impacts from mining..." Navajo Nation Tribal leaders earlier endorsed mining law reform in letters to Congressman Rick Renzi and in testimony to the House Natural Resources Committee during field hearings on the legislation. "Native American communities have been disproportionately impacted by hard rock mining including the destruction of their land, water, other natural resources and sacred sites. They are a vital part of any federal conservation issues discussion and it is significant that the tribes are in the forefront in Arizona on comprehensive Mining Law Reform," commented ACP coordinator Sarah Luna. Click here to read the resolution (download PDF) << back to press releases