Democratic leaders of the California Legislature have asked the White House to halt negotiations with Gov. Pete Wilson aimed at transferring the proposed Ward Valley nuclear dump site to the state.

Wilson's proposal to acquire the land is illegal because the state Department of Health Services, which has been negotiating to buy the land, lacks authority to do so, the leaders say.

A political battleground for the past decade, the 1,000-acre patch of desert close to the Arizona border has pitted the Wilson administration against environmental activists and local Indian tribes who fear that radioactive waste from the dump would contaminate the water table and eventually make its way to the Colorado River, 20 miles away.

The new letter--signed by state Sen. President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) and Speaker Pro Tem Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica)--is the strongest recent signal the Democratic leaders have sent on Ward Valley.

"It's the first time in several years the Legislature has engaged on the issue, and it creates a new political dynamic," said John Garamendi, the Clinton administration's deputy secretary of the Interior.

"The legislators have raised several critical issues regarding the legality of the state's position, and we will be taking a serious look at those issues," Garamendi said.

Citing "an internal Wilson administration memorandum," the legislative leaders say the governor's office has known since 1991 that the Department of Health Services did not have legal authority to purchase the Ward Valley property.

Moreover, the letter says that in a "flagrant effort" to avoid legislative scrutiny of the deal, the Department of Health Services further violated state law by arranging to pay for the land with a $500,000 "gift" from US Ecology, the firm hired to operate the dump.

Speaking for the Wilson administration, Elisabeth Brandt, chief administrative law judge for the Department of Health Services, said the department was authorized to acquire the land under a state government code permitting any state agency to take title of land to be used for public purposes with the permission of the state's director of finance.

"We had that [permission]," Brandt said.

She said the department was directed to seek funds from US Ecology by legislation that banned the use of tax money for the purchase of the land. That legislation, she said, also required that "the designated licensee"--US Ecology--advance money for the purchase price and recapture it from operating fees.

So far, the Interior Department has put off a decision on transferring the land pending the completion of tests to determine the safety of the site.

That testing was postponed after Native American protesters, who continue to occupy the site, said they would not allow the tests to take place. They have been joined by other activists who object to the dump because it would imperil habitat of the desert tortoise.

The state's Department of Health Services and US Ecology have sued the Department of Interior to force the land transfer, accusing Interior officials of breach of contract.

PEACE & DIGNITY JOURNEY -- WARD VALLEY TO SAN PEDRO RUN

In 1992, while the world was set to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the so-called discovery of the Western Hemisphere, Itzachilatlan, Abya Yala, Turtle Island, a run was being planned to bring to the forefront the memory of the original inhabitants of the western hemisphere. A PEACE & DIGNITY TRANSCONTINENTAL RUN was conducted. It began simultaneously from the tips of north and south America and came together in the middle at the sacred site of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotehucan, Mexico. It was run as a prayer and to bring together the original nations and peoples of the continents. The run brought together many first nations peoples and Elders and the confederation of the Eagle and the Condor. One People One Continent was formed. Four years later, in 1996, once again a transcontinental Peace and Dignity Run was completed. The prayers from these runs continues with the struggles that we face as indigenous peoples. The Ward Valley Run is a continuance of the prayer that began in 1992; to bring unity, to bring peace and dignity, to defend and protect our sacred Mother Earth, and to bring hope for future generations.

It is with much respect and hope that you accept this invitation to support indigenous peoples rights to live with Peace and Dignity while trying to protect our sacred Mother Earth. It is for this reason that a run of support will be conducted beginning in Ward Valley on Sunday, April 12, 1998 and ending Sunday, April 19, 1998 in San Pedro. The following is a tentative schedule for the run.

Sunday, April 12 Beginning ceremony and blessing of the staffs and runners. (at Ward Valley)
Monday, April 13 Sunrise start of run to Blythe, Tlahtokan (prayers, talking, planning)
Tuesday, April 14 Sunrise start of run to Torres-Martinez Reservation, Tlahtokan
Wednesday, April 15 Sunrise start of run to Morrongo Reservation, Tlahtokan
Thursday, April 16 Sunrise start of run to San Manuel/Sherman Indian School, Tlahtokan
Friday, April 17 Sunrise start of run to Chino, Tlahtokan
Saturday, April 18 Sunrise start of run to Los Angeles, Tlahtokan (downtown streets will be closed off)
Sunday, April 19 Closing ceremony. TLAHTOKAN

There are many other concerns and situations such as the Mexican government's attack on the traditional Mayan people in the state of Chiapas and the desecration Tongva burial sites in Los Angeles as well as many other environmental and human rights violations. A Tlahtokan (gathering of Elders) will be held at the end of the run at Angles Gate in San Pedro.

For more information call: Al Gonzales 909/590-2498

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ALLIANCE

Tonatierra POB 24009 Phoenix, AZ 85074 602/254-5230
Aztlan/Tonatierra POB 2217 Montclair, CA 91763 909/590-2498
CONIC -- Council of Indigenous Nations and Organizations of the Continent