A South Dakota mining company has withdrawn its graphite drilling project in the Black Hills following significant opposition. This decision comes after Native American tribes and local groups raised concerns, citing the project’s proximity to Pe’Sla, a sacred site where ceremonies are held and buffalo graze. Legal challenges were also initiated, arguing that the Forest Service improperly granted permits without adequate environmental reviews. This cancellation is being viewed as a victory for land defense efforts in the region.
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The transfer of federal forest land in Arizona to Resolution Copper, a joint venture of international companies, has been finalized for the development of a large copper mine. This transfer, mandated by Congress in 2014, marks the culmination of years of legal battles by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmentalists seeking to protect Oak Flat, a site of immense religious and cultural significance. Despite the appeals court acknowledging the destruction of sacred sites and profound harm to Native religious practices, it ruled that existing legal challenges were unlikely to succeed. A group of Apache women is now appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court as a final attempt to halt the project, which proponents argue will bolster the nation’s energy independence and economy.
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John Q. Hosedrinker