AZL General Discussion, page-22061

Those with short memories need to be reminded that opposition at the public meetings and in the submitted comments came not only from the Hualapai (and there is no indication that they have agreed to anything) but from the local ranchers and other non-Native residents. And it should also be recalled that the Thacker Pass litigation was led, not by the Native Americans whose participation came too late, but from a local rancher who was concerned about his environment.

The Center for Biological Diversity is not an organization that limits itself to Native American issues. They thrive on any lawsuit that can succeed (and result in an award of attorney fees).

Of course, if the plan is still for the drill-and-fill to take 18 months, it might be a better strategy to delay the lawsuit until the operating plan has to be submitted to BLM for approval after the exploration is finished.