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Victory: Ruling Against Coal Mining on Black Mesa

Submitted by Other Worlds on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 14:49

A US Department of the Interior Judge revoked Peabody Coal Company's mining permit for operations on Black Mesa in Arizona.  Wahleah Johns, co-director of Black Mesa Water Coalition, one of the petitioners in the appeal, issued the following statement: "As a community member of Black Mesa I am grateful for Judge Holt's decision. For 40 years our sacred homelands and people have borne the brunt of coal mining impacts, from relocation to depletion of our only drinking water source. This ruling is an important step towards restorative justice for Indigenous communities who have suffered at the hands of multinational companies like Peabody Energy. This decision is also precedent-setting for all other communities who struggle with the complexities of NEPA laws and OSM procedures in regards to environmental protection. However, we also cannot ignore that irreversible damage of coal mining industries continues on the land, water, air, people and all living things."

You can learn more on the Black Mesa Water Coalition website

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