The Bureau of Land Management has ordered an immediate suspension on the construction of a 50-mile portion of the SunZia wind energy transmission line in the San Pedro River Valley.
The order by BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning came in response to “an urgent request” from Tohono O’Odham Tribal Chairman Verlon Jose concerning construction of segments of the project on non-federal land.
Jose has claimed SunZia construction areas could include sites considered sacred to the Tohono Nation and other tribes. Other tribes, including the San Carlos Apache, Zuni and Hopi, have also concerns about the project.
The SunZia development covers a nearly 550-mile route that is part of a 3,500MW wind project Pattern Energy is developing between New Mexico and Arizona. Work will continue on other portions of the development during the suspension requested by the Tohono O’Odham.
BLM, Pattern Energy and the tribe will meet to discuss the tribes’ desire for an alternative route. Jose said BLM had previously issued SunZia a notice to proceed before all the historic and culturally relevant sites along the route were identified and before a treatment plan was completed.
Pattern Energy representatives have said site work and initial construction were authorized in areas where there were no historic properties or where historic properties would not be harmed, according to historic property treatment plans and cultural inventory reports.
The company has also said it is conducting extensive mitigation and salvage work to make up for environmental impacts and to relocate sensitive desert plants.
BLM has not said how long the suspension will be in place. The Bureau says it will consult with the tribe on a “government-to-government” level and look for a path forward. It also confirmed work on other locations on SunZia’s route are not affected. (Source)
