Quitovac, Sonora Toxic Waste Dump
Recent NewsAlthough the US EPA sent a letter to Greenaction in July of 2008 notifying them that SEMARNAT (a Mexican government agency) had halted its plans to permit the toxic dump at Quitovac, in Dec. of 2008 the company seeking to dump toxic waste at Quitovac (CEGIR) resubmitted plans for another toxic dump near Quitovac. A gathering is being organized for this March 28, 2009 at Quitovac in order to strengthen our efforts to have the O’odham sacred site of Quitovac permanently protected so that no company will ever be able to desecrate the land in any way. For more information about the March 28, 2009 gathering at Quitovac please download our flyer: Permanent Protection for Quitovac: No Toxic Dumping on Sacred Lands! |
There is a toxic waste dump proposed near the village of Quitovac in Sonora, approximately 30 or so kilometers South of Sonoyta and Organ Pipe. Quitovac itself is a small and poor Tohono O'Odham village that resides next to an amazing oasis of life, which Tohono O'Odham on both sides of the border consider sacred.
Amazingly out of a very low and dry Sonoran Desert almost on the edge of the Gran Desierto flows a bountiful spring, which forms a small lake teaming with life. In that way it is similar to Quitobaquito springs in Organ Pipe National Monument. The Sonoran
Huge Ironwood near Quitovac Desert around Quitovac is gorgeous and in good shape. There are numerous ferruginous pygmy-owls and other nesting raptors residing there, among other wildlife. The Sonoran Desert and especially washes in the area have very well developed woodlands with the largest ironwoods and Saguaros I have ever seen.
This dump is another example of environmental racism -- putting a destructive, harmful projects where the people don't have clout or the ability to resist effectively. The spring at Quitovac is a very sacred site to Tohono O'odham on both sides of the border.
Since early in 2006 the traditional O’odham residing in the occupied territories of Northern Mexico and the South Western United States (and their international supporters) have persistently and patiently organized, protested and petitioned to try to convince the Mexican government federal Environment and Natural Resources Secretariat (SEMARNAT) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop the company CEGIR from building this toxic dump. So far, protest and international attention has held back the initial phases of the dump construction, but there have been no official statements from SEMARNAT, CEGIR or any other entity that the plans to build the dump have actually been officially canceled.
Traditional O'odham are asking for help in the continued effort to stop the toxic waste dump on O'odham ceremonial grounds, through the circulation of a petition that will be included in the original statement from the Traditional O'odham Elders to be re-submitted to Mexico's and United States government agencies, to request for an official statement not to pursue the project. CEGIR is presently waiting for a change in the local government to push this project for an approved land permit to dump 45,000 tons of toxic waste a year.
For more information visit: the O'odham Solidarity Project and www.greenaction.org
