This notice is to provide information and ask for your support of local industry.
In 2005 the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) approved BHP Navajo Coal Company (BNCC) mine plan which authorized access to coal reserves needed for the future fuel for the Four Corners Power Plant (FCPP). In 2007, two organizations opposed primarily to the construction of the proposed Desert Rock Power Plant, filed suit against OSM approval of the mining plan. In 2010 the US District Court vacated the OSM’s approval of the plan. Since then BNCC and FCPP have been working with federal agencies to get environmental approvals and authorizations to proceed with mining in this area.
The OSM has posted an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the internet. An EA is part of the permitting process and is intend to allow input by interested parties into the permitting process. You communicate directly with the regulators and decision makers about the impact of the regulation/decision.
The recent push from the EPA on regional haze has resulted in negotiations with FCPP that will shut down Units 1,2,3 by the end of 2014 which will result in the loss of 250+ regular jobs at the FCPP and BNCC combined, the loss of state and county taxes money, the loss of royalty money to the Navajo Nation, less commerce for local businesses, and fewer contract employees supporting the maintenance outages at FCPP for the remaining life of the FCPP. The negotiations will result in contract jobs for the 2 year period during the construction of additional environmental equipment at FCPP.
Environmental groups are pushing to stop the use of coal as fuel for the electric power industry. It appears that at least some of our Federal bureaucracies are supporting this effort. The EA is your opportunity to get involved in the process. We need input into the decision making process by people that are regular citizens concerned about the economic future of our area of the State. There will be a lot of input on this internet site from environmental groups. Tell the regulators that you want the mining plan approved and what you see as the impact to our community if it is not approved and hundred more local jobs are lost at the plant and mine and the cascade to all local businesses using your own words.
Comments can be submitted by email or mail and must be received by January 17th.
Mail to: Mr. Mychal Yellowman
Navajo Mine Team Leader
Indian Programs Branch
Western Region, Programs Support Division
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
1999 Broadway, Suite 3320
Denver, CO 80202-3051
Indirectly related to this issue is the impact of the Regional Haze Ruling on the San Juan Generation Station (SJGS) operated by Public Service on New Mexico. The ruling puts the future of the San Juan Station at risk. If the environmental groups are successful at closing both the FCPP and the SJGS, the economy of the Four Corners Region would be devastated.
