Gila River Indian Community Sues AZ Department of Transportation Over Proposed ... - Phoenix New Times
The Gila River Indian Community is the latest group to sue the Arizona Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration over a planned extension of Loop 202, called the South Mountain Freeway pass. The lawsuit filed this week alleges that the two agencies violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Department of Transportation Act by “failing to consider adequately the significant harm the freeway would inflict on the environment... It will connect the Southeast Valley and Southwest Valley by extending Loop 202 through part of the Ahwatukee Foothills, South Mountain Preserve, and Laveen area, eventually connecting to I-10 near 59th Avenue. “The proposed freeway would destroy parts of three ridges of South Mountain and also would destroy or alter many trails, shrines, and archaeological sites that constitute significant cultural resources for the community and its members,” Gila... “South Mountain, or Muhadagi Doag, is one of the community’s most important and sacred natural resources. It is a prominent part of the community’s oral traditions and ceremonial activities, all of which are tied to the natural environment. Source: www.phoenixnewtimes.com
