The Navajo Nation Council BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE has scheduled a WORK SESSION at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Albuquerque, N.M., April 27. The WORK SESSION is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and deals with very public issues.

According to Budget & Finance Committee’s proposed agenda, the committee will hear recommendations from the Navajo Nation Office of the Auditor General regarding sanction against tribal entities for failing to implement corrections to audit findings.

The committee will also discuss paid Navajo Nation holidays; and bonuses and merit payments to Navajo Nation employees, directors, managers, and law enforcement.

Navajo Nation government officials, including the Budget & Finance Committee, have been scrambling to save the coal-fired Navajo Generating Station and Peabody Kayenta Mine, which is the sole source of coal for NGS, by May 1 because of the huge loss of public revenues and jobs.

Among the Navajo Nation plans to save NGS and Peabody coal mine is for the Navajo Nation’s enterprise, Navajo Transitional Energy Company to buy Peabody Kayenta Mine and sell the coal at a reduced price to NGS.

Meanwhile energy experts announced months ago, if not years ago, that the coal industry was dying. The experts have even recommended that NGS be transitioned into a solar and wind plant, which would continue to generate electric power and revenues and jobs for the Navajo Nation.

Several years ago, a group of young Navajo people made the same recommendation for NGS to be transitioned into a renewable energy power plant. The Navajo Nation ignored their recommendation but patted themselves on the back when the Navajo Nation Council approved legislation for a Navajo Nation Youth Advisory Council to the three branches.

23^rd Navajo Nation Council Office of the Speaker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 6, 2017

Speaker Bates meets with concerned community members and power plant workers to discuss the future of Navajo Generating Station

FOREST LAKE, Ariz. – On Wednesday, Speaker LoRenzo Bates was scheduled to meet with federal and tribal officials to discuss the potential closure of Navajo Generating Station, but instead accepted an invitation to meet with local residents at Forest Lake Chapter to provide information and to address their questions and concerns regarding NGS and the potential impact on Kayenta Mine.

Following the meeting with local residents, Speaker Bates traveled to the city of Page where he met with NGS workers.

Speaker Bates provided both groups with information regarding theNavajo Nation’s projected revenues for next year’s budget, which indicates that the Nation will likely have a revenue shortfall next fiscal year due to declining coal and oil prices that provide for a large portion of the comprehensive budget each year. If NGS were to discontinue operations this year, the Nation could be facing an even larger budget shortfall, added Speaker Bates.

In addition, the Trump administration’s initial “skinny budget” also indicates that the Navajo Nation would receive less federal funding, which would add to the overall budget shortfall.

“These are not scare tactics, this is the reality of the situation,” stated Speaker Bates. “There are many moving pieces that need to be considered and factored into the situation that NGS is in.”

Approximately 40-community members were in attendance at Forest Lake Chapter, many of which reside near Kayenta Mine in the community of Black Mesa. Over the four-hour meeting, a total of 13 individuals were provided the opportunity to address their concerns, which ranged from the impacts on health from dust and coal ash, potential contamination of water sources, health and safety of livestock, and the need for theNavajo Nation to pursue more renewable energy development.

The majority of those who spoke at the meeting urged tribal leaders to close Kayenta Mine and to hold Peabody Coal Co. accountable for fully reclaiming the lands. They also urged leadership to pursue renewable energy development such as wind and solar energy, adding that Forest Lake Chapter currently uses solar energy, which is not only a clean source of energy but has reduced the cost of providing electricity at the facility.

Two audience members refuted claims of health impacts due to coal mining, stating that they were employed at Kayenta Mine for several decades as coal miners and have not experienced any health problems since retiring.

Several community members said local “grassroots” people should have a “seat at the table” when the Navajo Nation is discussing potential options with the owners of NGS. Additionally, they asked leaders to support them in participating in the development of renewable energy initiatives with Navajo Transitional Energy Company.

NTEC is the owner of Navajo Mine located in New Mexico. When theNavajo Nation Council formed NTEC in 2013 in order to purchase NavajoMine, the enabling legislation mandated that the company use 10-percent of its annual net income to pursue renewable energy development.

The community members requested to provide a report to the Council to share their concerns prior to Council considering an extension or renewal of the NGS lease.

Speaker Bates informed the group that the Navajo Nation must reach a decision on the NGS lease no later than July 1, 2017 if the Nation wants to extend or renew the lease to allow the company to continue operating through 2019. He added that he expects legislation to be introduced beginning on May 1 to address the NGS lease.

“Every day the situation is changing and its very complex,” said Speaker Bates. “Everything that we heard today is important and should be considered when looking at the big picture.”

Following the meeting at Forest Lake Chapter, Speaker Bates and Council Delegate Nathaniel Brown met with approximately 60 NGS workers in the city of Page. Many of the employees that spoke asked for the Council and the President to support the continuation of NGS through 2019 and beyond.

Several employees said NGS has provided stability for them and their families by allowing them to stay close to their families rather than having to leave the Navajo Nation to find employment.

Coppermine Chapter president Sid Whitehair urged the employees to become more involved and to continue obtaining supporting resolutions from chapters and to submit them to Navajo leadership. Another employee said that he fears that if the power plant closes, it will lead some to substance abuse and create more social problems in surrounding communities.

One audience member who identified herself as a social worker with the state of Arizona, asked the Council to support the workers, adding that the state has already experienced a decline in funding for social workers and that a closure of NGS would lead to more social problems in Navajocommunities.

Speaker Bates informed both groups that he and the President would be meeting with the U.S. Department of the Interior and other stakeholders on April 12, to follow-up on their previous meeting, which was held on March 1.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2017
Navajo Nation Council members meet with coal mine workers to address concerns

BLACK MESA, Ariz. – Last Wednesday, Speaker LoRenzo Bates and Council Delegates Tom Chee and Nathaniel Brown met with over 100 employees from Peabody Coal Mine also known as Kayenta Mine, to provide information to the miners regarding the status of Navajo Generating Station and possible implications for the coal mine and its employees.

Speaker Bates and general manager Audry Rappleyea addressed the workers at the coal mine and reassured the workers that the Council is working with the Department of the Interior and NGS stakeholders to determine how the power plant can remain open beyond 2019, which is when the NGS owners have voted to end their ownership of NGS.

Kayenta Mine is the sole provider of the coal that NGS uses to produce electricity. If NGS closes, the mine owner would likely have to identify another purchaser of the coal that is mined at Kayenta Mine.

“We want you all to know and to understand the complexities of the situation because the current situation has the potential to impact you, but we are working with all the stakeholders to reach a solution,” said Speaker Bates.

According to Rappleyea, last year Peabody paid the Navajo Nation approximately $26 million in coal royalties that benefit the Nation each year. Speaker Bates explained the overall financial impact that a closure would have on the Nation and the entire state of Arizona.

Following his presentation, Speaker Bates answered questions from the coal mine workers. One miner said he has worked at the mine for 43-years and asked the members of the Council to continue advocating for the mine and its workers.

“I am asking you to continue fighting for our livelihoods,” said the employee. “Especially for the young workers, our sons and daughters.”
In February, Speaker Bates and President Russell Begaye met with Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior James E. Cason, other federal and tribal officials, and stakeholders to discuss potential options for Navajo Generating Station.

The potential closure of the power plant is due in large part to the low cost of natural gas compared to coal. Officials with Salt River Project have stated that they will continue the operation of NGS until 2019, as long as the Navajo Nation is able to amend or change the current lease agreement to allow additional time after 2019 for reclamation efforts. If a lease extension is not finalized in the coming months, NGS owners say they would be forced to close the plant in July 2017 in order to begin and complete the two-year reclamation process by 2019.

During the February meeting, Deputy Secretary Cason asked the stakeholders for their assistance in working collectively to complete several tasks including identifying potential new owners and an operator for the power plant, and identifying potential purchasers for the electricity produced by NGS. The stakeholders and federal officials will meet again in April, to report their findings and further discuss plans to keep Navajo Generating Station in operation for the long-term.

“We want to keep employees informed of what the Council is doing to address NGS and Kayenta Mine,” added Speaker Bates, who is also planning to address NGS workers to provide them with an update and to address their questions and concerns.

Navajo Nation Council Office of the Speaker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 1, 2017

Navajo leaders meet with the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss the future of Navajo GeneratingStation

WASHINGTON D.C. – Speaker LoRenzo Bates, President Russell Begaye, and several members of the Navajo Nation Council met on Wednesday with Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior James E. Cason, other federal and tribal officials, and stakeholders to discuss potential options for Navajo Generating Station. On Feb. 12, the owners of NGS voted to continue operations of the power plant until the end of its current lease agreement with the Navajo Nation, which expires in December 2019.

The potential closure of the power plant is due in large part to the low cost of natural gas compared to coal. Officials with Salt River Project have stated that they will continue the operation of NGS until 2019, as long as the Navajo Nation is able to amend or change the current lease agreement to allow additional time after 2019 for reclamation efforts. If a lease extension is not finalized in the coming months, NGS owners say they would be forced to close the plant in July 2017 in order to begin and complete the two-year reclamation process by 2019.

Deputy Secretary Cason facilitated the four-hour discussion between NGS stakeholders and federal officials at the Department of the Interior, which was held to identify interests, discuss potential economic impacts of a shutdown, and to create a list of tasks to develop potential solutions to keeping the power plant in operation until 2019 and beyond.

In his opening remarks, Speaker Bates highlighted the economic benefits that NGS provides for the Navajo Nation and the entire state of Arizona, which includes significant annual revenues from coal royalty payments through the Kayenta Mine and the lease agreement, scholarship funds, approximately 800 jobs from the power plant and coal mine, and other secondary markets.

“What are you as stakeholders able to contribute to make this work in the long-term beyond 2019?” asked Speaker Bates. “We look to explore how we can do this and the Navajo Nation Council will have to make a determination to make it work.”

President Begaye recalled that the Navajo Nation spent time and resources negotiating in good faith a lease amendment to extend the current lease with SRP a few years ago. By doing so, he said the Navajo Nation has done its part to keep the power plant in operation for the long-term and called for NGS to stay in operation beyond 2019.

Hopi Tribal Chairman Herman G. Honanie was also in attendance and said the tribe would stand to lose significant revenue if Kayenta Mine were to close if NGS is shut down, adding that it would also increase the unemployment rate that currently stands at approximately 60-percent. The Hopi Tribe has indicated that approximately 80-percent of the their general fund budget is derived from royalties from the Kayenta Mine.

Leaders from the Tohono O’odham Nation and Gila River Indian Community were in attendance to highlight the potential impact on their communities that depend on the Central Arizona Project for water usage, which is powered by NGS.

Near the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Secretary Cason asked the stakeholders for their assistance in working collectively to complete several tasks including identifying potential new owners and an operator for the power plant, and identifying potential purchasers for the electricity produced by NGS.

“Our presence here today is a testament to how important this issue is,” said Deputy Secretary Cason, while also acknowledging the federal government’s trust responsibilities to tribes.

The stakeholders and federal officials agreed to meet again in April, to report their findings and further discuss plans to keep Navajo Generating Station in operation for the long-term.

Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President

April 12, 2017

PRESIDENT BEGAYE STATEMENT ON MEETING AT INTERIOR DEPARTMENT REGARDING NAVAJO GENERATING STATION

Washington D.C.- The Department of Interior convened a meeting today with Navajo Generating Station (NGS) owners, stakeholders and government officials in order to determine the fate of NGS, address coal prices and seek ways to keep the power plant open.

President Russell Begaye said today in a statement:

“The primary goals of the Navajo Nation are to renew our lease and explore all ways to keep the Navajo Generating Station open until 2029. To shut down prematurely will create a devastating impact for Navajo, as over 40% of our entire budget and infrastructure is tied to revenues generating from both NGS as well as the Kayenta mine.

“Should NGS close, we are asking the Department of Interior to guaranteed access to transmission lines for development purposes. We are exploring options to develop solar, wind and other renewables of which we will need access to the transmission lines on our land in order to export it. Additionally we would like to assume the rights to water and minerals on our land. Currently, we have no rights to minerals beneath our soil. As we seek economic independence, we would like rights to the Uranium, coal and other minerals beneath our soil.

“Lastly, we are imploring both the owners of NGS which include Salt River Project as well as the Federal Government to employ our highly skilled people within their operations. Due to the rural area that NGS is located in, it is unlikely for our people to find replacement jobs that match their skill set.”

Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,

APRIL 5, 2017

PRESIDENT BEGAYE TELLS DOI WORKGROUP THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO HONOR ITS TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES

CHANDLER – Today, President Russell Begaye told a Department of Interior (DOI) workgroup that the Federal government needs to honor its trust responsibility to Tribal nations by promoting economic opportunity and revenue to offset the potential closure of Navajo Generating Station (NGS).

“The potential closure of NGS in 2019 will have a devastating impact on the Navajo Nation. The loss of good, high paying jobs will not only affect NGS employees, but also their children, grandparents and extended family members,” President Begaye said. “Our collaboration should explore ways we can replace job loss on the Navajo Nation.”

The DOI convened a regional meeting at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass today. During the Navajo presentation, President Begaye stressed the devastation and impact that would result in a job loss of 3,090 direct and in direct jobs as a result of the shut down of Navajo Generating Station and the Kayenta Mine.

“The Navajo Nation’s primary concern is the traumatic economic impact that would result from the shut down of the Navajo Generating Station. The relationship between the federal government and the Navajo Nation must be redefined,” President Begaye said. “Our collaborative mission must be to develop a plan to replace thousands of job losses on the Navajo Reservation.”

During his presentation, the president said the workgroup needs to consider all options to promote economic growth on the Navajo Nation.

“We urge DOI to look within its sister agencies for employment opportunities.  We also need to prioritize a system by which NGS employees will be given preference in any potential employment opportunities,” he said.

“President Trump has stressed the importance of promoting and keeping domestic coal production alive in the United States and we are excited that he has declared the ‘War on coal is over’. The Navajo people are self-reliant and hard workers. We support President Trump’s vision on coal production and need President Trump to stand by the Navajo Nation and Americans across the country.  We applaud the president’s commitment to lift the burdens of regulation and allow us to use our natural resources to provide for our people.