Bates concerned about spill as politician, farmer
LoRenzo Bates
WINDOW ROCK
LoRenzo Bates
Aside from his political duties as speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, LoRenzo Bates is a farmer and rancher, and he’s concerned about how the EPA-caused toxic spill from the Gold King Mine will impact his livelihood.
Not just his, but for the several thousands of farmers and ranchers that live along and rely on the Animas and San Juan Rivers as their water sources. He lives about 200 yards from the banks of the San Juan River in Upper Fruitland, with the canal system, located about 100 yards from his house, that feeds his farm of alfalfa, corn, pumpkins, squash, watermelons and other fresh foods.
It’s been eight days since the August 5 spill, and Bates says he will likely be forced to harvest his third cut of alfalfa this season. His fourth cut is likely improbable, considering that the canal system his farm uses is partitioned off from the more than three million waste of arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium, and zinc – that is flowing and settling in the rivers.
“Every other farmer and rancher will be in the same situation,” Bates said, adding that he’s already incurred over $1,000 in costs.
As the days continue, in which farmers and ranchers have no access to water, the speaker anticipates costs to increase.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow