News Release, May 7, 2002

U.S. environmental groups ask Universities of Minnesota and Virginia not to participate in destructive Mt. Graham telescope project

The presidents of the University of Virginia and the University of Minnesota today received letters from major U.S. conservation organizations, including Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club, asking that those universities not join a University of Arizona telescope project on Mt. Graham in Arizona.

The letter pointed out that the project was ecologically destructive to the southernmost spruce-fir forest in the United States and impacted a fragile and irreplaceable "Galapagos-like cradle of evolution." It also stated that the mountain was sacred to the Apache people and "home of the ga'an, mountain spirits -- and a living locus of spiritual energy for their people."

The letter pointed out that the only reason a project having such profoundly destructive impacts could have been approved in the U.S. was that: "In the final days of the 1988 session of Congress, lobbyists for the University of Arizona succeeded in having a rider inserted into the legislation bypassing our endangered species and Native American cultural protection laws-with virtually no public debate or public hearings."

The last paragraph of the letter concluded: "We suggest that a great institution of learning would not want to have its good name associated with a project so damaging, so disrespectful to the cultural beliefs of others, and authorized by such a dubious political procedure. Knowing that there are many, and better, alternative locations to pursue needed and important astronomy research, we respectfully urge you to reject any participation by your Universities in this venture at Mt. Graham."

The letter referred to the more than thirty universities which have already abandoned or rejected the Mount Graham project. Their decision was based upon the environmental, cultural and scientific problems of this site. The University of Arizona's own internal studies revealed the visibility or "seeing" at the site was deeply flawed. Studies by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, representing the leading U.S. astronomy universities, found not only 38 superior U.S. sites, but that Mt. Graham's bad weather and "seeing" visibility problems ruled against quality science there.

For info:
Endangered Species Coalition:
Brock Evans, Washington, D.C., 202 789-2844, ext. 132;
Mt. Graham Coalition:
Guy Lopez, Charlottesville, VA, 434-409 6651;
Bob Witzeman, Phoenix, AZ, 602 840-0052;
Michael Nixon, Esq., Pittsburgh, VA 412 355-7433,
Dwight Metzger (U. of Minn.) 612 386-2829,
Robin Silver 602 246-4170;
Apache Survival Coalition:
Ola Cassadore Davis, San Carlos, AZ, 928 475-2543;
Apaches For Cultural Preservation:
Wendsler Nosie, San Carlos, AZ, 928 475-2545 (w), 928 475-2494 (h);
Sandra Rambler, San Carlos, AZ, 928 475-4381,
Raleigh Thompson San Carlos, AZ, 928 475-2595;
Western Apache cultural officials:
Ramon Riley, White Mtn. Apache Cultural Resources Director, 928 338 4545,
Jeanette Cassa, Coordinator, Elders Advisory Council, San Carlos, 928 475-2329,
John Welch, White Mtn. Historic Pres. Officer, 928 338-3033;
Other Western Apache:
Vincent Randall, Tonto Apache, 928 634-8594;
Anthropologists with recognized expertise with Western Apache:
Dr. Charles Kaut, retired UVa anthropologist, Charlottesville, VA, 434 293-7622,
Dr. Keith Basso, U. New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 505 277-3308,
Dr. Elizabeth Brandt, Arizona State U., Tempe, AZ, 480 965-5992