Students, community say ‘no’ to mining on the San Francisco Peaks

By Ryan Randazzo

NAU students don’t want to see mining take place on the San Francisco Peaks, and neither do many Flagstaff citizens.

A public meeting conducted by the U.S. Forest Service March 31 concerning mining claims on the mountains brought out a strong showing of students, Native American tribal representatives, citizens and environmental groups opposed to mining claims on the peaks. More than 70 people showed up at Flagstaff City Hall to discuss their views about the area and what the forest service could do to protect it.

“The San Francisco Mountains are very special to this community,” said Roxane George, an NAU senior environmental science major. “These mountains transform our days, they help us transcend the mundane.”

The public was invited to tell forest service employees what they think about the recent proposal to withdraw 74,380 acres around the peaks from mineral claims for 20 years. The service is considering the proposal, and has been granted a two-year withdrawal in which they are to make the decision. The decision they have to make is whether or not to recommend to the Bureau of Land Management that all or part of the area is withdrawn from mining claims. This would prohibit any new mining activities from taking place. Under current law, the maximum time the withdrawal could last is 20 years.

“Our decision is not a voting process, but we want to hear from the public,” said Ken Jacobs, the lands and minerals staff officer for the Peaks and Mormon Lake Ranger Districts. “We seek their comments to verify that it is the right thing to do. Based on comments we have received, a lot of people are in support of the proposal.”

Among those in support of the proposal are about 1,300 NAU students who signed a petition in the University Union. Signing meant they were in favor of the forest service proposal and that they were opposed to the expansion of the White Vulcan Mine. The mine produces pumice, a mineral used to make stone-washed jeans, on the east side of the peaks.

At least 12 communities of Native Americans consider the peaks sacred and oppose this type of activity on the land. Representatives from at least five spoke at the meeting. Many non-Native Americans also believe the peaks are a special place that should be preserved and kept in pristine condition.

The petition drive was run by Brandon Oberhardt, a 20-year-old freshman and member of NAU Environmental Communicators. Oberhardt said he believes most students are opposed to mining on the peaks.

“I think so, that’s why a lot of people choose to go to school here, for the mountains and the surrounding area,” he said.

Oberhardt was one of at least seven NAU students who voiced their opinion to the forest service. Thirty-one people spoke at the forum, all in favor of the withdrawal. More than 60 gathered at the public library across the street before the forum to discuss their views. When the forum began at 5 p.m., they were led across the street into City Hall by Martha Shideler, who was playing her bagpipe.

“I came here because of the mountain, because of the Peaks,” she said. “I can’t start my day without seeing the Peaks. I feel very strongly about them raping the land,” she said.

Opposition to the proposal was non-existent at the forum. Tufflite officials were invited to attend by mail, Jacobs said. They apparently declined the offer, but Jacobs added that their lawyers have sent one or two letters to the forest service questioning the proposal. He estimated receiving around 1,600 letters supporting the proposal.

With such an outpouring of support, forest service officials see it as likely that some portion of the withdrawal will go through.

“I think we’ll have a withdrawal. The question is, what exactly is the appropriate boundary?” Jacobs said. “Will some or all of that 74,000 acres be protected from mining?”

The area being considered is roughly a rectangle stretching from Baderville east to Doney Park and from Buffalo Park north to the Wupatki turnoff. Even if the forest service passes the recommendation to protect the entire area, it must still pass another hurdle. The only person with the authority to allow such a withdrawal is the Secretary of the Interior. The forest service should have its decision to that person within the next year and a half.

In order to promote congressional support for the proposal, assuming the forest service makes the recommendation to withdraw the land, Oberhardt has sent his petition list to Sen. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz.

“We need our local congressmen to push this,” Oberhardt said.