Desert Rock hearing draws more than 200

By Andi Murphy, Farmington Daily Times, 07/19/2007

FARMINGTON — More than 200 people turned out for the Desert Rock Power Plant draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) public hearing Tuesday evening at the Farmington Civic Center to voice their comments and questions about the proposal.

Desert Rock is a proposed 1,500-megawatt, coal-fired power plant that would be located about 30 miles south of Farmington in Burnham. The draft EIS explains how the Bureau of Indian Affairs expects the proposed plant would affect people and the surrounding land. The plant, to be located on the Navajo Nation, would cost about $3 billion to build and would employ hundreds.

The auditorium was full of protesters and supporters on Tuesday. Protesters opposed Desert Rock being built because of the increased emissions, loss of culture and land. Some who were against the plant wore stickers that said, "No Desert Rock." A portion of the attendees supported the plant because of the jobs it will create, the revenue it will produce and the clean and new technology it will use.

Melissa Johnson, a college student who will attend Fort Lewis College as an archeology major, was one of the first people to pose a question to the Navajo Nation and the BIA.

"Is your culture for sale for marginal profit?" she asked.

With the three minutes she was allowed to speak, she told the audience about the potential harm that would be caused to the Navajo culture and the ancestral pueblo sites that were found where the power plant would be located.

Shannon Fitzgerald, with the Public Service Company of New Mexico, was in favor of the proposal's alternative B, which is a plan to build the power plant. Alternative A is the no-action plan, preventing the power plant from being built.

"We need money in the area," Fitzgerald said. "The demand for power is growing."

He explained about the need for substantial economic development in the vicinity and the high paying jobs that the plant will provide.

Nora Flucke, a registered nurse at San Juan Regional Medical Center, spoke about birth defects as a result of mercury exposure that comes from power plants.

Daniel Nez, a life-long resident of Little Water, was another protester who spoke about the loss of vegetation and medical problems from air pollution.

"We can't go on like this — you and I, we all breathe this pollution day after day," Nez said and then translated in Navajo.

When he was done, a loud applause followed Nez's words.

Frank Maisano, spokesman for Desert Rock, said the emissions from the plant would be reduced significantly with state-of-the-art technology, including a 90-percent mercury reduction.

"The plan really does balance the environment needs and economic needs," Maisano said.

He said the Navajo Nation is striving for economic development and said the Nation strongly supports the plant. He added that the Navajo tribal council voted 66-7 in favor of the project.

If the plant is built, $50 million a year in revenue will go to the Navajo Nation for, "better education programs, better health programs and better world electric distribution programs," Maisano said.

There would also be a $300,000 fund that will go to environmental groups for projects, Maisano said.

Nine more Desert Rock public hearings are scheduled around the Four Corners area. For more information, go to www.desertrockenergy.com.