Environmentalists in New Mexico are renewing their efforts to gain permanent protection for the Otero Mesa area in the south. About 183 claims are held by the Colorado based company Geovic Mining Corp in the region. The company finished staking a 5 square miles claim in the Cornudas Mountains last week in a bid to find rare minerals.
While the company has promised to keep its exploration to a minimal disturbance the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and other environmental concern groups are worried that the exploration would lead to a full fledged mine in the mountain range near the New Mexico and Texas border.
Nathan Newcomer, associate director of the wilderness alliance said that this was turning into what could be a very big problem out there, and the only way they were going to be able to stop this thing is if they could get some kind of formal permanent protection.
Ted Rodriguez, of the Apache Advocates for Otero Mesa said that to the Apache Otero Mesa is their cathedral. The man who is the headman of the Mescalero Apache Traditional Elders Council felt that any mine in the area would significantly alter the landscape.
Geovic Mining has said that they have a long-life limited impact mining operation which would strongly support the long-term growth in the local economy. However economic welfare may not be enough to sway the environmentalists.