Hungry Valley, Nevada

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony is tucked into the Hungry Valley, near Reno, Nevada, the state's second largest city.  The Colony, which now numbers about 500 people, moved to Hungry Valley in the 1980s, after their previous 30-acre homeland became overcrowded and surrounded by Reno's urban sprawl.

But not long after moving, tribal members were confronted with an unwanted neighbor - the Oil-Dri Corporation, which had mining claims in the Hungry Valley and planned to build a kitty litter mine there.

"In 1999 Oil-Dri came to us and said that it was going to build two mining pits in Hungry Valley," said Darlene Gardipe, a Reno-Sparks Indian Colony member and valley resident.  "One of the mines would be less than 100 yards from the Colony's border."  Residents couldn't believe that such a thing was possible, but as Darlene recalled, "Oil-Dri, the Bureau of Land Management, and everyone said that some law passed in 1872 allowed anyone to place mining claims on federal lands and start mining, no matter what was there or what was next door."

The tribe soon discovered that not only would the mine be ugly, but it would also be dangerous.  Gardipe became active in the tribes opposition to the kitty litter mine.

"The Oil-Dri representatives told us that arsenic could leach into our groundwater because of their activities, but they weren't concerned with our community's health, only with their profits," said Gardipe.  In addition, the facility that would process clay from the mines into kitty litter would pollute the air.  Emissions of particulate matter were a major concern for the community.  As Gardipe learned, when particulate matter is inhaled, it can penetrate lung tissue, causing any number of respiratory illnesses.

"Respiratory problems are the number two health problem in our community," she explained. "Every day I see little children who have to use respirators and who are on medications, and I ask why would anyone want to make their health even worse?"

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony worked with local communities and organizations outside of the reservation to stop the kitty litter mine.  Their outspoken and determined opposition helped convince Washoe County Commissioners to deny a permit for the mine. 

But the fight did not end there. The Oil-Dri Corporation is challenging the decision in court.  The company has trotted out a federal law-the General Mining Law of 1872-to support what it claims is its right to mine.

"It is ridiculous that this law would sacrifice our community for the sake of kitty litter," said Gardipe.  "We don't oppose mining.  In fact, we encourage responsible mining that doesn't destroy our environment, but we also recognize that a company should be responsible to the communities that are affected by the mine.  Building a mine that could cause serious health problems right next to a residential community is not a responsible action."

"It's a shame that corporations are willing to sacrifice people just to make a few dollars," said Gardipe.