By Sue Major Holmes
Albuquerque, New Mexico (AP) 12-09
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has withdrawn its biological assessment
for a proposed power plant in northwestern New Mexico, saying it has
“significant concerns” about the impact of mercury and selenium on two
endangered fish species in the San Juan River.
BIA Director Jerry Gidner, in a letter Thursday to Fish and Wildlife
Service Southwest Regional Director Benjamin Tuggle, said the decision
will allow more time for coordination between Tuggle’s staff, the BIA
and the Environmental Protection Agency.
It was the second review of federal decisions for the $3 billion coal-fired Desert Rock Energy Project on the Navajo Nation.
In September, the Environmental Appeals Board in part granted a request
by regional EPA officials who wanted to review parts of an air permit
issued last year.
Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. also said he wanted the project
to add equipment designed to capture carbon emissions from Desert Rock.
Gidner’s letter said adding such a component would require additional
analysis and possibly a supplement to the biological assessment.
The Navajo Nation’s Dine Power Authority and Houston-based Sithe Global
LLC, who have partnered to build the 1,500-megawatt power plant south
of Farmington, have said Desert Rock would be one of the cleanest
coal-burning plants in the nation.
Messages were left after hours seeking comment from the Navajo Nation and Desert Rock officials.
They also have said it would generate more than $50 million in annual
revenues and create jobs on a reservation where more than half of
people are unemployed.
Environmentalists, the state of New Mexico and some Navajos have voiced
concerns about the project, saying a third coal-fired plant in the Four
Corners region would compromise air quality, human health and the
environment.
Mike Eisenfeld of one opponent group, San Juan Citizens Alliance, said
a more in-depth biological assessment “would only delay the inevitable
conclusion that Desert Rock should never be built.”
“Desert Rock would add more pollution to a river system already polluted beyond thresholds for selenium and mercury,” he said.
New Mexico Environment Secretary Ron Curry said the state is confident
the BIA and EPA will agree there should be no new coal plants “without
the latest and greatest environmental controls, including limits on
greenhouse gas emissions.”
Quoted from News from Indian Country:
http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8143
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This blog site centers on the proposed coal-fired power plant called the Desert Rock Energy Project on Navajo lands in Northwest New Mexico. Navajo community members in Burnham, New Mexico (proposed site) update this site with news articles (past to present) for regular public viewing and updates. Thank you for your support.
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BIA withdraws assessment for Desert Rock
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