Black Mesa Residents Concerned About Health, 
Lack of Electricity, Relocation of Burial Sites 

The Intergovernmental Relations Committee met May 26 at Forest Lake Chapter to hear concerns of citizens regarding the upcoming possible closure of the Mohave Generating Station, according to a press release from the speaker's office.

Most of those testifying spoke in Navajo before the committee.

Ruth Gilmore said that the mining companies make a lot of money, but it doesn't benefit people at the local level. She said lack of running water continues to be a problem in the area.

Many residents pointed out that there are Navajos living without electricity while the energy from the mine goes to people in California and Nevada.

Elouise Williams was one of the many who spoke of concerns about the relocation of burial sites.

"I say, 'Leave them alone,'" Willians said.

Others spoke about the need to study the effects of the mine on the health of local residents.

"They (employees) wear masks, but those who live around here don't have masks," said Council Delegate Amos F. Johnson (Black Mesa).

"Twenty-four hours a day they breathe this stuff," he said, adding that many residents suffer from asthma.

Johnson said the challenge for the committee is to try to balance the need to protect jobs and the need to protect the people living in the area.

The closure the Mohave Generating Station would cause the loss of hundreds of jobs and the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe would lose millions in annual royalties. The Black Mesa Mine sells all its coal to the plant.

The plant is required by consent decree, to install scrubbers for pollution control - at a cost of $1.2 billion - for contined operation past 2005.

Before the owners of the MGS pay for the scrubbers, they are asking for a guaranteed water source, for the slurry line from Black Mesa to Nevada for the next 20 years.

John Wasik, with Peabody Coal Company, presented an overview to the committee at the Human Resource Center at Black Mesa Mine. United Mine Workers President Marie Justice accompanied the committee on a tour of the mine.

The Black Mesa Mine employs 240 workers. About 95 percent are Native American.