By Shondiin Silversmith | AZ Mirror
A federal judge granted the Hualapai Tribe’s request for a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, freezing an exploratory drilling lithium project in the Big Sandy River watershed near the tribe’s sacred spring.
The order prohibits the BLM from authorizing or allowing any ground disturbance, construction, operation, or other activity approved in the Big Sandy Valley Lithium Exploration Project for 14 days.
“Today, our people celebrate the granting of the temporary restraining order, but understand our fight is not over,” Hualapai Chairman Duane Clarke said in a written statement. “We will continue to bring awareness to the protection of our water.”