On August 2, the Hualapai Tribe filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for wrongfully approving the Sandy Valley Lithium Exploration Project -- a massive drilling operation that would severely and permanently damage the Tribe’s lands and the waters of Ha’Kamwe’ -- or Cofer Hot Springs, an important ceremonial and cultural site and listed as a Traditional Cultural Property.
The Tribe has voiced its concerns to environmental agencies since 2019, when an Australian mining company began exploration activities in the area.
On August 21, the US District Court for the District of Arizona granted the Hualapai Tribe a temporary restraining order and set a hearing to consider granting a preliminary injunction that would extend the pause for the duration of the lawsuit.
On September 17th, the Court heard from the Tribe and mining company in a six hour hearing at which the judge ordered each side to submit briefs on why or why not the judge should issue an injunction against this drilling.
Judge Diane Humetewa will issue a decision in the near future.
Attorney General Kris Mayes filed an amicus brief in support of the Hualapai.
Prior to and during the hearing, members of the Hualapai Tribe, Chispa Arizona, Sierra Club, Arizona Faith Network, and many others gathered outside in support of the Tribe and protection of the springs.
If the project is allowed to go forward, the company could drill and test up to 131 exploration holes across 21 acres reaching depths of 360 feet into the aquifer that feeds Ha’Kamwe’, with an eye towards building a full-scale mine.
Portions of this piece come from a news release sent by the Hualapai Tribe.
Information here was compiled by Sandy Bahr