Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2000

Contact: Tim Ahern (202)-208-5089

*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

Babbitt Will Visit Vulcan Mine Site in Northern Arizona

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will travel to the San Francisco Peaks region near Flagstaff, Arizona on Tuesday, April 25, to view the White Vulcan mine, where pumice is mined for stone-washing blue jeans. The mine, owned by the Arizona Tufflite Corporation, is located in the Coconino National Forest.

"This mine is located on land which is sacred to Native Americans and the fact that this mine is permitted to operate here shows again the need to reform the 1872 Mining Law," Babbitt said. "That law has led to the despoiling of some of the most beautiful areas of the West, such as the San Francisco Peaks."

"For years, Arizona Tufflite has taken advantage of the1872 Mining Law to mine pumice without paying a dime in royalties to the American taxpayers," Babbitt said. "In the process, they have scarred the landscape of the San Francisco Peaks. The Forest Service has done what it can by pursing the company in court and by beginning the process of withdrawing the rest of the area from new mining. But the basic flaws in the 1872 Mining Law remain, encouraging this kind of development in pristine areas. Only Congress can make the needed changes and so far, Congress has refused to act."

Who:Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior, and Native American leaders.
What:Visit to White Vulcan Mine near Flagstaff.
When & Where: 11 a.m., April 25, 2000 Media should meet at the White Vulcan Mine staging area, just off Arizona highway 89 Note: The turn-off to the mine staging area is to the west off Highway 89. A Forest Service official will be stationed at the turn-off to guide the media to the location. Turn off 89 and go west on Schultz Pass Road. Drive 50 feet and turn right onto Forest Road 553. Drive about 1 mile on FR553 to the mine road intersection.

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