On Wednesday, October 24th the Utah Water Quality Board approved in a 9-to-2 vote the first tar sands mine in the United States. The bogus and revolting conclusion of the Board was that there is no ground water near the mine, so there is no need for a water pollution plan by U.S. Oil Sands, a Canadian corporation. The attorney for Living Rivers (Peaceful Uprising’s fiscal sponsor) said they are likely to appeal the ruling in court.  U.S. Oil Sands hopes to be mining the site at PR Springs in the gorgeous Book Cliffs within a year, but they must first receive approval by the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining. Learn more about the ruling here and here.

This is a destructive and dangerous proposal especially for the people of Utah who live close to the proposed mine, but also for all the millions of downstream people who drink Colorado River water — including the people of many Native American Nations (Navajo, Northern & Southern Ute Tribes, Cocopah Indian Community, and the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe to name a few), Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego — more than 20 million people. The beautiful and remote Book Cliffs would be permanently scarred, destroying some of the best animal habitat in Utah, if not the entire country. Lastly, every living thing is impacted by the climate change this mine would provoke. We had little hope the state government wouldn’t green light this path to destruction, so we’re gearing up for a campaign we think we can win, a campaign to resist an attack by the machine.

Will you rise up with Peaceful Uprising and our allies on the ground (Before It Starts, Living Rivers, Utah Tar Sands Resistance) against this violent attack? We need you now; life needs you now — climate justice can not be delayed.

As our co-founder Tim DeChristopher has said before:

“It’s Time To Rush The Field!”

This is truer now than ever before.

Will you support us? Will you join us?

Some of the Latest Media Coverage:

• Tar Sands South: First US Tar Sands Approved in Utah, DeSmog Blog, 10/26/12
• ‘Expect Resistance’: Utah Tar Sands Project Get Green Light, Common Dreams, 10/25/2012
• Utah tar sands project gets key go ahead, High Country News, 10/25/12
• Utah Oil Sands Project Can Proceed Without Pollution Permit, Water Monitoring, InsideClimate News 10/25/12
• Utah water board backs 1st US tar sands project, AP/Standard Examiner 10/24/12
• Utah board OKs the nation’s first commercial tar sands project, Salt Lake Tribune, 10/24/12
• Testimony to be Heard on Tar Sands Project, KCPW, 10/23/12
• Tar Sands Battle, Salt Lake City Weekly, 10/17/12
• As Texas Pipeline Blockade Continues, Activists Challenge First US Tar Sands Strip Mine in Utah, Democracy Now!, 10/10/12
• Potential groundwater contamination at issue in tar sands mine, Deseret News 9/26/12
• Decision on Eastern Utah’s tar sands mine expected next month, Salt Lake Tribune, 9/26/12