Babbitt Kills Bid to Dig Gold Mine Near Sacred Indian Sites

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt killed a proposal Wednesday for an open-pit gold mine in Southern California that he said would irreparably damage Indian cultural and religious sites near the Arizona border.

Mining advocates expressed outrage at the decision and the company, Glamis Gold Ltd. of Reno, threatened to fight it in court.

Babbitt’s decision blocked Glamis from starting the 1,571-acre mine on Bureau of Land Management property about 45 miles northeast of El Centro. He said his decision was the first mine rejection under a 1976 mining law that allows denial of mining permits for “undue degradation” of the environment.

Babbitt said his decision was based on the proposal to remove 450 million tons of rock and ore from a 2 1/2-square-mile area, then rinse the ore with cyanide to obtain about 50 file boxes worth of gold. He held up a box to illustrate what he described as a small amount of gold sought.

“I think this is in fact a momentous occasion,” Babbitt said. “No administration has ever taken these recommendations seriously, but I do.”

Members of the Quechan tribe, whose reservation sits near the proposed mine, said the project would harm archeological remains such as rock carvings, ceremonial circles and trails across the volcanic desert terrain. “Spirit trails” connect sacred Indian sites, and worn paths have been used for thousands of years.

“No amount of gold--whatever they pay, whatever it costs--will take the place of history,” tribal President Mike Jackson said through tears at a news conference about the decision. “History was saved.”

Glamis had estimated the mine would yield 1.1 million ounces of gold worth about $300 million. The company has spent more than $14 million on the project, including $1 million trying to address Indian concerns by changing plans.

“It’s very disappointing, but not surprising,” said David Hyatt, Glamis vice president of investor relations, who said the company plans to challenge the decision in federal court.