California has adopted the nation´s toughest restrictions on open-pit metallic mining. The move thwarts Bush Administration attempts to expand mining and virtually eliminates large scale gold mining in the Gold Rush state.

The rules may be challenged in court. Several high profile mines stand to lose, including 1 near a sacred Indian site and 1 that is proposed within view of Death Valley National Park.

The regulations require mining companies to flatten mine waste piles and refill all new open-pit metal mines. They were sparked by the Quechan Indian Tribe´s 8 year battle against Glamis Gold´s proposal to mine federal land near the tribe´s Fort Yuma Reservation, on part of the tribe´s sacred “Trail of Dreams.”