Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
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Call upon Governor Davis to put a final nail in the coffin.

NEEDLES, CA - The Colorado River Native Nations Alliance (CRNNA) and Ward Valley Coalition (WVC) celebrates yesterday's decision by the US District Court refusing to force a transfer of land to the state of California for a nuclear waste dump and US Ecology's announcement that they will not appeal the decision and, in fact, deem the project over.

In the wake of these announcements, the CRNNA and Ward Valley Coalition are calling upon Governor Gray Davis to act immediately to put a final end to this ill-fated project by withdrawing the state's application for the land at Ward Valley.

"This is a big victory for the Tribes and for all of the people who have worked so hard and for so many years to stop this project." said Nora Helton, chairwoman of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. "It is now imperative that Governor Gray Davis do what he's promised to do, to live up to his words and withdraw the State's application for the land at Ward Valley. It is in his hands now to end this project once and for all!"

Although the court decision and US Ecology's announcement are potentially fatal blows to the project, until the land application is withdrawn Ward Valley will not be safe from a nuclear waste site. The CRNNA and Ward Valley Coalition oppose the placement of any type of nuclear waste facility at Ward Valley and call upon Governor Davis to ensure no such facility will ever be built.

"As part of the CRNNA, the Colorado River Indian Tribes urge Governor Davis to withdraw the land application and put a stop to the dump forever!", said Dave Harper, spokesperson for the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

The Colorado River Native Nations Alliance, consisting of the Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Cocopah, Quechan, and Colorado River Indian Tribes, have long opposed the siting of any type of radioactive waste facility on land they hold sacred. Together with environmentalists and activists from all over the world they have maintained a constant presence on the land at Ward Valley for 3½ years and last year occupied the land for 113 days successfully halting further desecration of the sacred valley.

"Hand in hand, Native and non-Native people from all over the world have worked to win this important battle. This victory proves to us all that truth and justice do have a chance in this world today when the people work together." said Molly Johnson, office coordinator of the Save Ward Valley office in Needles, CA. "We ask Governor Davis to heed the word of the people, withdraw the land application and finally lay this project to rest."

Molly Johnson, Save Ward Valley, 760-326-6267
Nora Helton, Ft. Mojave Indian Tribe, 760-629-4591
David Harper, C.R.I.T. spokesperson, 520-669-9211

Related Web Sites:

URL: http://earthrunner.com/savewardvalley
URL: http://www.shundahai.org/SWVAction.html
URL: http://www.ctaz.com/~swv1
URL: http://banwaste.envirolink.org
URL: http://www.alphacdc.com/ien/wardvly4.html
URL: http://www.greenaction.org