Phoenix, AZ – Attorney General Kris Mayes announced today the filing of an amicus brief in support of the Hualapai Tribe’s request for a preliminary injunction in Hualapai Indian Tribe v. Haaland and Arizona Lithium, Ltd. The brief urges the court to protect Arizona’s water resources from potentially irreversible harm due to exploratory lithium drilling near Ha’Kamwe’, a sacred spring for the Hualapai Tribe.
“The sacred Ha’Kamwe’ spring has sustained the Hualapai people for generations, and its protection is crucial for the Tribe,” said Attorney General Mayes. “The failure to adequately assess the impact of this project on such an essential water source is unacceptable. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must fulfill its obligations under NEPA by fully evaluating how this project affects local water resources. I stand with the Hualapai Tribe in protecting their precious cultural and water resources.”
Filed with the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, the amicus brief contends that the BLM did not meet its legal obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Specifically, the brief argues that the BLM failed to conduct the necessary “hard look” at the impact of the proposed drilling project on local water supplies, especially the culturally and environmentally significant Ha’Kamwe’ spring. The Attorney General’s Office also asserts that the BLM relied on outdated data to downplay the risks to water resources, disregarding more recent scientific findings.
The brief warns of the potential for irreparable harm to Arizona’s water resources if exploratory drilling proceeds without proper review. Attorney General Mayes is calling for the court to issue a preliminary injunction to halt drilling activities until the case is resolved, ensuring that Arizona’s vital water sources remain protected.
This action underscores Attorney General Mayes’ commitment to supporting Arizona’s Tribal nations and safeguarding the state’s water resources. The case is being handled by Assistant Attorneys General Jennine Burns and Kristin Wrobel of the Environmental Protection Unit.
