BLM halts SunZia Transmission Project (50 miles of - Kali) in Arizona amid concerns over cultural impact

[Kali]

https://news.azpm.org/p/news-articles/2023/11/9/218144-blm-halts-sunzia-transmission-project-in-arizona-amid-concerns-over-cultural-impact/

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has ordered an “immediate temporary suspension” of the SunZia Transmission Project, affecting an approximate 50-mile segment in Arizona, “located entirely on non-federal land.”

The suspension in Arizona, occurred following the letter the BLM received from the Tohono O’Odham Tribal Chairman Verlon Jose, representing the Tohono O’Odham Nation, San Carlos Apache Tribe and Archaeology Southwest on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The letter raised concerns about the potential interference with Traditional Cultural Properties (TCP) in the San Pedro Valley area.

The letter addressed to Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland called for a withdrawal or suspension of the limited notice to proceed (“LNTP”), which was issued on Tuesday, Sept. 26, by the New Mexico State Office of the BLM.

[Kali]

1. copy of letter from BLM to Tribe

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
National Headquarters
Washington, DC 20240
https://www.blm.gov
November 8, 2023
The Honorable Verlon Jose
Chairman
Tohono O’odham Nation
P.O. Box 837
Sells, Arizona 85634
Dear Chairman Jose:
The Secretary has asked me to respond to your October 31, 2023, letter regarding SunZia’s activities on
State and private lands within the San Pedro Valley area, which are occurring in connection with the
Limited Notice to Proceed in the San Pedro Valley (“San Pedro Valley LNTP”).
Your letter specifically requested that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) withdraw or suspend the
San Pedro Valley LNTP in order to halt continued activities in the San Pedro Valley area until the BLM
and the Nation, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and Archaeology Southwest could consult regarding the
objections raised under Section XIII of the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project Programmatic
Agreement (PA) in the August 4, 2023, letter and in the email sent by Archaeology Southwest (via
Director Welch) on October 5. In response to your request, the BLM has ordered an immediate
temporary suspension of SunZia’s activities authorized within the San Pedro Valley LNTP, covering an
approximately 50-mile segment in Arizona located entirely on non-Federal land.
I respectfully request to meet with you at your earliest convenience within the next 5 days to consult
regarding your objections and discuss a path forward. I note that my previous requests in June and
August were unsuccessful, as were the BLM New Mexico State Director’s requests to schedule
government-to-government consultations, and I am hopeful that this communication, paired with the
temporary suspension, will chart a path forward.
Please reach out to me to schedule a consultation. You can reach me at [e-mail], and
please copy my assistant at [e-mail]. We look forward to continued collaboration with you.
Sincerely,
Tracy Stone-Manning
Director
Enclosure - Director Welsh October 5, 2023, Email
cc: Pueblo of Zuni Governor, The Honorable Val R. Panteah, Sr.
Archaeology Southwest President and CEO, William Doelle

sorry about formatting I had a pdf mailed to me, not sure how else to post other than copypasta. there is a link to it in the article.