Mining ban recommended for peaks held sacred by Indian tribes

PHOENIX - The U.S. Forest Service recommended a ban Thursday on new mining in the San Francisco Peaks, an extinct northern Arizona volcano held sacred by 13 American Indian tribes.

The proposal, which must still be approved by the Interior Department, would ban new mining claims on 74,380 acres of mountain land for 20 years. Existing operations would not be affected.

''I think that's a good step but there's more to be done. There should be a moratorium on all future developments,'' said Ray Baldwin Louis, spokesman for Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye.

''There are offerings of gem stones that have been made for hundreds of years that are placed on different parts of the mountain and any construction that comes along will take away those places and destroy those things, Louis said. ''If somebody goes up the mountain, it's like going to a church and having construction outside the window.''

A temporary ban on new mining operations has actually been in effect since November 1998. Approval of the Forest Service's recommendation would formalize it for the 20-year period, after which it must be reviewed.

Ken Jacobs, an official with the Coconino National Forest, where the peaks are located, said approval seems likely because it has broad-based support. A decision must be made by Nov. 4.

U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt has himself criticized mining in area, which has been embroiled in controversy since environmentalists and American Indians teamed up to try to block a proposed expansion of the 90-acre White Vulcan pumice mine in the peaks.

White Vulcan is the largest mining operation in the ban area. There are also several small sand and gravel operations.

Babbitt's office did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment on the ban Thursday.

Jacobs said the mountain is one of the key traditional cultural properties in the Southwest. At 12,643 feet, it's also the state's tallest mountain and offers views from its summit that stretch to the Grand Canyon's North Rim 80 miles away.

''It's a unique and special place that is different from the typical forest land,'' he said.

Jacobs said the area is also important to the city of Flagstaff's tourism industry. The peaks are frequented by hikers, skiers, birdwatchers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The Sierra Club, which has been fighting to preserve the peaks in their natural state, praised the Forest Service but also said the proposed ban was only a beginning.

''This is a victory along the long path to restore the mountain and protect it for the future,'' said Rob Smith, a Sierra Club official in Phoenix. ''We needed to take this step and I'm glad the Forest Service acted as quickly as it did. Now we have to take steps to heal the scars that are there.''

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On the Net:

Coconino National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino