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Letter: Power plant on sacred Navajo Nation land
Monday, March 19, 2007
Filed Under: Environment | Opinion

"I oppose the proposed Desert Rock Power Plant near Sanostee/Burnham. Horizons are discolored, and anyone should realize this is polluted air coming from the two power plants near Farmington.

A new plant will use about 4,500 acre-feet of water per year and spit out contaminates — CO2, S02, mercury — in the water we drink, that sustains our animals and our crops.

We know how dry the Southwest is. Do we want another power plant that takes this water and contaminates it with cancerous materials?

The map Sithe Global has in their possession reads, "land owners unknown," and is false. The Navajo Nation belongs to the Diné, the only Indians that received the original land, except the Crow Nation.

Sacred medicine bundles (Nii' gliiz) are placed along those ridges by Navajo medicine men and women. The area is sacred. Anasazi and Navajo ruins and other archeological sites are there and should not be disturbed. They are protected."

Get the Story:
Darlene Parker: Pres. Shirley must consider overall picture on Desert Rock (The Farmington Daily Times 3/18)

Relevant Links:
Desert Rock Clean Air Act Proposed PSD Permit - http://www.epa.gov/region09/air/permit
Desert Rock Energy Project - http://www.desertrockenergy.com
Dine Citizens Against Ruining our Environment - http://dinecare.indigenousnative.org

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