HERE AT NAVAJO COUNCIL LAW AND ORDER COMMITTEE WHERE NAVAJO GROUPS OPPOSING HRI/HYDO-URANIUM RESOURCES INC. PROPOSED IN-SITU URANIUM MINING DEMONSTRATION PROJECT NEAR CHURCH ROCK, NM, WHICH IS IN EASTERN NAVAJO RESERVATION. L&O COMMITTEE HEARD FROM HRI AND VOTED DOWN THEIR REPORT WITH A VOTE OF 1 IN FAVOR, 2 OPPOSED.
BECENTI, NM, CHAPTER VICE PRESIDENT JONATHAN PERRY
in january, DNA legal services held meeting and there were attorneys that explained that the Resources & Development Committee’s legislation violated Dine’ Fundamental Law and Navajo laws. Dine’ Medicinemen’s Association passed legislation opposing RDC legislation. Many chapters are continuing to opposed RDC legislation and Utah Land Commission, Eastern Agency Council also oppose. Communities and organizations are asking Council to rescind RDC legislation. And nationally there is question of what to do with uranium waste. So how do we set standards? We emphasize cleanup of former uranium mining and milling cuz of people and commuitiies that are still suffering. We are talking about jobs and there are jobs in cleanup.
The Navajo Nation also needs to address the proposed transportation of uranium from
L&O COMMITTEE MEMBER DELEGATE ELMER BEGAY
Point of Order: where are the resolutions that you are talking about?
JONATHAN PERRY
We handed out those resolutions at a prior meeting.
LEONA MORGAN
We handed out CD to council delegates and there are 4 resolutions on that CD.
LEGISLATIVE ADVISOR SHAMMIE BEGAY
I asked if this group had handouts and there was no response but i will followup.
DELEGATE ELMER BEGAY
We need all these documents. There are concerns about water and we need to know the position of Navajo Environmental Protection AGency. WE need to kow how the tribal programs are working with these communities in Eastern Navajo.
L&O COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON PRO TEMP ALTON SHEPHERD
There is information and we will provide that to you, Delegate Elmer Begay.
JONATHAN PERRY
And the Navajo Nation Energy Policy does not support uranium mining. And I’m a allottee and allottees have come to me and asked for alternative energy development instead of uranium. And I am not the only one providing information about uranium mining and milling.
And Section 17 still needs to be cleaned up and yes, HRI didn’t contaminate but HRI agreed with the Navajo Nation to do the cleanup of former uranium mining activities.
LEONA MORGAN
while i was in college, my grandmother died of lung cancer and we didn’t kow why. my aunt died from breast canser. other family members have died and are suffering from cancer from past uranium mining.
we are at front of nuclear chain and it is the US that is using the uranium. i am here to rescind RDC legislation and for Navajo Nation to return to original agreement for temporary access. HRI submitted themselves to full jurisdiction of Navajo Nation.
in 2011 to 2013, the Navajo Nation established Uranium Task Force which recommended establish Uranium Commission to handle uranium cleanup, jobs, any proposed uranium mining, which is what HRI Vice President M Mark Pelizza was talking about. And this Commission is proposed to work with all the Navajo communities impacted by former uranium mining and milling. Church Rock is not the only community impacted by former uranium mining and milling.
when talking conventional and in-situ uranium mining, we got from HRI website that HRI is proposing conventional uranium mining near Nose Rock, NM, which is on the Navajo Reservation.
when we talk remediation, we need to talk background standards. HRI saying already naturally contaminated but how much. In 1980s, HRI reported that water good for drinking. and there is lack of regulations regarding ISL and transportation of uranium.
We have a lot of documentation and it costs a lot of money but I will try to get those to you. And there are many more Church Rock resolutions and there is a Church Rock community member who would like to address the recent CR resolution supporting HRI.
