Tell Norton that destroying religious sites for cheap electrity is not cool

Secretary of Interior of Gale Norton wants to grant federal approval to a disastrous mining proposal that will destroy sacred lands and fragile ecosystems. Tell her that destroying religious sites and rare ecosystems in the name of cheap electricity is not cool with you.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Deny Fence Lake Coal Mine

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I urge you to deny Salt River Project's (SRP) Fence Lake strip coal mine. The legacy of coal mining and burning in the Southwest is polluted rivers, drained aquifers and poisoned human communities. These impacts have been disproportionately and deliberately concentrated on Native Americans. Please do not continue this legacy. Uphold the Department's Indian trust responsibilities by refusing to grant approval to SRP's mining plan of operations for the Fence Lake Mine.

Coal production has had, and continues to have, a devastating effect on the Southwest's environment. Coal mining and coal-fired power plants is not only bad for the Southwest, it is bad for the planet. A leading contributor to both global warming and acid rain, increased coal production is clearly not the answer to our nation's long term energy needs. And more importantly our government should not be sanctioning the destruction of unique ecosystems and religious and burial sites simply to provide cheap electricity.

Please, Secretary Norton, uphold your Indian trust responsibilities as well as your duty to protect our Nation's environment. Reject the Fence Lake coal mine.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 01, 2002

Background Information

For hundreds of years, the Zuni, Acoma, Laguna, Hopi, Navajo, Apache and other southwest American Indian tribes have made pilgrimages to the sacred Zuni Salt Lake in western New Mexico. They gather to worship and to collect its pure salt for ceremonial and domestic use. The Zuni believe the Salt Lake is home to Salt Mother, a very important deity to the Zuni People.

Tribal members following ancient trails to the lake have always known their time collecting the salt would be peaceful since the surrounding lands are considered a "Sanctuary Zone" that all tribes respect.

Now, Salt River Project (SRP), an Arizona electric utility, wants to blast and bulldoze the massive Fence Lake coal strip mine in the middle of this Sanctuary Zone, only a few miles away from the Zuni Salt Lake. In the name of cheap coal the mine would destroy sacred sites, over 500 human burial remains, archaeological and cultural sites and the Salt Lake itself. Studies by the U.S. Department of the Interior show that groundwater pumped from the mine would destroy the delicate balance of water and salt found in this rare high desert oasis.

Secretary of Interior of Gale Norton is poised to grant federal approval to this disastrous proposal on Tuesday, February 5. Secretary Norton needs to hear from as many people as possible that destroying religious sites and rare ecosystems in the name of cheap electricity is not acceptable.

The Zuni Salt Lake Coalition--comprised of the Zuni Tribal Council, Center for Biological Diversity, Citizens Coal Council, Sierra Club's Environmental Justice Program and the Water Information Network--has already helped delay this project once. Last October 23rd, with your help, the coalition generated over 1,000 faxes in less than 24 hours and stopped the Department of the Interior from approving the mine permit. Please help repeat this victory by sending your email today.