Black Mesa residents urge search for energy alternatives
Indian Country Today, Oneida, N.Y. Aug. 11--FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.
Aug. 11--FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Hopi and Navajo tribal members told a utility commission in California that it is time to stop threatening Indian people with the loss of jobs and stop holding them hostage to economic deprivation by dependence on the destruction of natural resources.
Masayesva testified before the California Public Utilities Commission in San
Francisco on July 9. The CPUC held evidentiary hearings June 14 -- July 9 on the
future disposition of the Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin, Nev. A
California utility, Southern California Edison, is the majority owner of the
Mohave plant.
The Mohave plant receives coal from Hopi and Navajo lands on Black Mesa, by
way of water slurry using the pristine water from the N-aquifer in the dry
region where many Indian families lack running water. The Mohave plant produces
electricity for Southwest cities, while many Indian families on Black Mesa lack
electricity and rely on kerosene lanterns.
Nicole Horseherder, Navajo from Hard Rock Chapter and a founding member of
the grassroots organization To'Nizhoni Ani' which is also opposed to using the
groundwater for coal slurry, also testified. Horseherder was questioned by
Christine Hammond, representing the Navajo Nation which proposes to keep Mohave
open to provide jobs. Hammond asked Horseherder how she thought the reduction in
revenue would affect Navajos, in terms of roads, schools and other services.
Horseherder pointed out that on Black Mesa, Navajos live in deprivation and
there is no development.
"I would assume [these things would be affected], but you have to
understand that where I live, there is no infrastructure. The law enforcement is
not there. The roads are not there. I don't see the police. I don't see the
pavement. I don't see any of the revenues from the mine in my community. So,
yes, I would assume that it would affect the nation outside of the region of
Black Mesa, which is largely unimproved," Horseherder said.
Hammond asked Horseherder what effect losing mine jobs would have on Navajo
families' standard of living. Horseherder said, "There are more than 30,000
of us who have had a reduction in our standard of living because our water is
being used for the last 30 years."
Black Mesa Trust said Mohave will almost certainly close at the end of 2005,
since its owners have delayed installing the pollution control equipment
specified in a 1999 Consent Decree. Whether the 1580 MW plant will ever reopen
depends in part on whether a new source of water for the coal slurry line from
Peabody Coal's Black Mesa Mine to Mohave can be found and implemented.
Masayesva said the only option currently being investigated is obtaining
water from the C-aquifer south of Interstate 40 and pumping it to Black Mesa.
Black Mesa Trust, a grassroots organization, was represented in the
proceeding by Dr. Lon House of Water & Energy Consulting. House began the
day by introducing Black Mesa Trust President Leonard Selestewa.
"I am born to the Sun Clan from the village of lower Moenkopi. And I'm a
Hopi farmer. I rely on the surface water that is presently being -- captured by
[impoundments] at the mine. We have an artesian well that flows into my village
from our public water system," Selestewa testified.
"We are very concerned about what is happening with our water. We
believe we have the grassroots support of our villages. And we are now
consulting with our religious leaders who have given us statements of support.
This position that we hold is very much in line with what we are hoping to see
accomplished here, and I'm glad to be here."
Before giving his own testimony, Masayesva read a statement from Jerry Honawa.
Honawa could not attend the hearing because he was preparing for the Niman
ceremony. Niman or Home Dance is a way of carrying out Hopi belief that all
living things come from water and all will go home back to water.
"To support the continued use of groundwater for the coal slurry
operation is irresponsible, morally reprehensible, and it only helps to promote
unwise water use, policy and practices," Selestewa testified.
Masayesva then testified that Black Mesa Trust is opposed to using any fresh
water for the coal slurry operation, even if that water were to be pumped off
reservation from the C-aquifer. Further, Masayesva told the Commission, Black
Mesa Trust is absolutely opposed to pumping of N-aquifer water even as a backup
for the C-aquifer water.
James Ham, attorney for the Hopi Tribe that proposes to keep the Mohave plant
open for the sake of tribal revenues, cross-examined Masayesva.
Masayesva briefly outlined some of the Trust's proposals for replacing the
tribal revenues that will be lost when Mohave shuts down -- even temporarily. He
mentioned a proposed solar power plant on the reservation and revenues that
should be generated from transmission lines that cross the reservation. The
contract for the right-of-way for Arizona Public Service's el Dorado
transmission line expired in 1992, for example. He also recommended that a
proposition to start collecting possessory and severance taxes from Peabody be
voted on by the Hopi people in the next tribal election.
Ham cross-examined Masayesva about how he thought the tribe would take care
of the Hopi families who would lose their government jobs if Mohave shuts down
and revenues from Black Mesa Mine were therefore not available. Masayesva
testified that Black Mesa Trust has submitted letters and other communications
to the tribal council "to address these precise points.
Masayesva said two years ago Black Mesa Trust asked the Hopi chairman to call
for an economic summit challenging each Hopi to come up with various ways to
raise the $5 million loss of mining royalties when Mohave shuts down.
"Challenge us. Bring us into the circle," Masayesva said. Let's sit
down and work out various economic alternatives." He said Hopi are not
helpless people.
"We are very, very aggressive, intelligent, hard-working people."
The Commission has called for further written testimony, and its decision is
not expected before late autumn.
Organizations supporting Hopi and Navajo efforts include Natural Resources
Defense Council, Sierra Club, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law,
Oxfam America, WaterKeeper Alliance, Environment Now, Grand Canyon Trust, Honor
the Earth, Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association, Indigenous Water
Institute, Sacred Land Film Project, Seventh Generation Fund and the law firms
of Shearman & Sterling and the Shanker Law Firm.
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