July 14, 2007--Coal mining on Navajo land draws lawsuit (Durango Herald)
Three environmental groups challenged a government agency over its decision to renew a permit for the coal mine that would supply the proposed Desert Rock power plant in New Mexico. The plaintiffs claim the mine has forced Navajo Indians from tribal lands and left millions of tons of hazardous waste exposed to the elements. Brad Bartlett, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, said it isn't directly related to the campaign against Desert Rock, although it could affect plans for the plant. "This is not really the issue for our lawsuit. Our lawsuit goes to waste disposal practices," Bartlett said. Mike Eisenfeld with the San Juan Citizens Alliance said that coal mined from area is returned as waste - in the form of ash and sludge - to the Navajo Mine. More than 1`BD million tons of coal-combustion waste from the plant per year is backfilled into the Navajo Mine," Eisenfeld said. "Despite legal requirements, the Office of Surface Mining hasn't required protections for ground or surface water. It doesn't even require monitoring, even though the mine is part of a major river drainage." The river in question, the Chaco River, flows northward, emptying into the San Juan River.
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