Tribes Say SunZia Line Threatens San Pedro River, Sue To Stop Work

Two Arizona tribes filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management for approving a high-voltage transmission line, alleging the government failed to account for historic and cultural sites through the line’s San Pedro Valley route. Fifty miles of the transmission line will traverse the middle and lower San Pedro Valley, which has ecological and historical values that Indigenous tribes and conservation groups hope to protect.  The Biden administration has described the $11 billion transmission line as a “game-changer” for America’s transition to clean energy.  In a 2022 environmental impact statement, the BLM found SunZia could accelerate habitat loss, affect conditions for migratory birds and remove riparian vegetation used for habitat and food for wildlife.  The riparian area is home to more than 60 mammal species, 14 fish species and 41 reptile and amphibian species, some of which are endangered or threatened.