Attorney General Mayes files amicus brief supporting Hualapai Tribe in water protection case
PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes announced the filing of an amicus brief today, supporting the Hualapai Tribe's request for a preliminary injunction in the case Hualapai Indian Tribe v. Haaland and Arizona Lithium, Ltd. The brief urges the court to protect Arizona's water resources from potential damage due to exploratory drilling near the Hualapai Tribe's sacred spring, Ha'Kamwe'.
"The sacred Ha'Kamwe' spring has sustained the Hualapai people for generations, and its protection is critical for the Tribe," said Attorney General Mayes. "The failure to properly evaluate the impact of this project on such an important water source is unacceptable. The BLM must fulfill its obligations under NEPA and fully evaluate this project's impact on local water resources. I am proud to support the Hualapai Tribe's efforts to protect their precious cultural and water resources."
Filed with the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, the amicus brief argues that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) did not comply with its legal obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Specifically, it contends that BLM failed to conduct a required "hard look" at how proposed lithium drilling would impact local water resources, particularly Ha'Kamwe', which holds cultural and environmental significance for the Hualapai Tribe. The Attorney General’s Office also asserts that BLM relied on outdated data, contrary to more recent scientific studies.
The brief highlights potential irreparable harm to Arizona's water resources if exploratory drilling proceeds without thorough review. It urges the court to issue a preliminary injunction halting drilling activities while the case is heard, ensuring that Arizona's water sources are not compromised.
This action reflects Attorney General Mayes' commitment to supporting Arizona's Tribal nations and protecting state water supplies. Assistant Attorneys General Jennine Burns and Kristin Wrobel of the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Unit are handling this matter.