A California bill that would have given Native Americans a greater role in the protection of their sacred sites was vetoed on September 30 by Governor Gray Davis. Bill SB 1828 was to protect or mitigate damage to sacred sites by developers. The law held great significance for the Quechan Indian Nation, in their struggle to prevent a proposed gold mine from being built near the Indian Pass, an area sacred to them. Despite his veto, the Governor did relay his support for the tribe in their determination to protect their sacred site. "I am particularly concerned about the proposed Glamis gold mine in Imperial County, and I have directed my Secretary of Resources to pursue all possible legal and administrative remedies that will assist in stopping the development of the mine," said Davis in his official statement after vetoing the bill. The sacred sites protection legislation had the support of 50 California tribes but was opposed by business interests who claimed that the bill offered them too much leverage, and could provide the legal means to grind statewide development to a halt.
