45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002
REQUESTING THAT THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE MINING AND MINERALS DIVISION OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT RECONSIDER THE MINING PERMIT ISSUED FOR THE SALT RIVER PROJECT'S PROPOSED FENCE LAKE COAL STRIP MINE NEAR ZUNI SALT LAKE AND THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR NOT ISSUE ANY NEEDED PERMITS FOR THIS PROJECT.
WHEREAS, Zuni Salt lake has provided salt used for religious purposes by Zunis and members of nearby tribes and pueblos for hundreds of years; and
WHEREAS, the proposed mine would draw water from Zuni Salt lake; and
WHEREAS, the proposed mine would disturb over five hundred human burial sites and shrines and places to which members of seven pueblos and tribes make prayer pilgrimages; and
WHEREAS, the unique ecosystem of Zuni Salt lake and the surrounding sanctuary district is eligible for inclusion in the national register of historic places as a traditional cultural property; and
WHEREAS, studies by the bureau of Indian affairs find that the mine would drain the Dakota aquifer to a point that it would cause irrevocable damage to the sacred Zuni Salt lake; and
WHEREAS, no people of any faith should have their sacred areas destroyed; and
WHEREAS, the United States department of the interior has a trust responsibility to all Native American tribes to protect their lands and culture;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources and the director of the mining and minerals division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to reconsider the issuance of the mining permit issued for the Salt river project's proposed Fence lake coal strip mine near Zuni Salt lake; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of the interior be requested not to issue any needed permits for this project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, to the director of the mining and minerals division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department and to the secretary of the interior.