Indian tribes and environmental groups joined forces to file suit challenging construction of the Sun Zia transmission line that will originate in New Mexico and carry wind-powered electricity to Arizona and California.
They have asked a federal judge to stop construction that began last week. The 32-page lawsuit was filed Jan. 17 in Tucson, Arizona U.S. District court and accused the U.S. Interior Department and the Bureau of Land Management of refusing for years to recognize “overwhelming evidecent of the cultural significance” of the remote San Pedro Valley to Native American tribes. Among the tribes are the tohono O’odham, Hopi, Zuni and Western Apache
The Associated Press r eported the suit was filed right ater Pattern Energy won approval from the government to move ahead with its SunZia Transmission wind farm in central New Mexico.
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