RDC questions the intent of Eastern Agency Abandon Uranium Mine remediation
SANTA FE, N.M. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 representatives said, “We’re prepared to move forward on these large (uranium) cleanups” regarding the seven Eastern Agency abandoned uranium mines, AUMs, and sites.
During a regular Resources and Development Committee meeting on Monday, Michael Montgomery, the U.S. EPA Superfund and Emergency Management Region 9 director, said that last June, RDC was fully consulted on cleanup matters and had a public comment period.
With the comment period, roughly 26 Navajo tribal members responded, 19 of whom were from AUM-impacted communities.
“We have the authority to hold parties accountable,” Montgomery said. Thus far, three private parties have been doing the work associated with the sites.
According to Montgomery, negotiations could take six months to a year. If the agency is unable to reach an agreement, it has the authority to issue “unilateral” orders under its statute.
However, RDC Chair Brenda Jesus said that the presentation does not give a proper “quantifiable” response to the Navajo Nation regardless of what the agency has heard from community members.
She questioned how many chapter resolutions were created and implemented and whether the agency took the AUM sites seriously.
“Is it just a formality to say, ‘OK, we did our consultation, and now we’re still going to proceed with what EPA feels they need to proceed with in terms of EPA determination,’” Jesus said.
She recalled Montgomery’s statement that the agency has “unilateral authority,” which she believes limits the Navajo Nation’s voices if the agency is still going to do as it pleases.
“I think there is a high consensus right now,” Jesus continued. “It does not address anything with the Red Rock repository facility,” to which she believes the agency has heard a lot of opposition.
“We, as Indigenous people, did not ask for this,” Jesus said. “(We are) hoping that we secure more federal dollars so that these particular (sites) can be taken off Navajo Nation.”
Suppose the federal government wouldn’t have disrupted these mining activities. In that case, Jesus believes the Navajo Nation wouldn’t be sitting here arguing, but again, a list of items still needs to be addressed.
“All (the) government decided (was) to come in and say, ‘Because it’s trust responsibility and you only have rights, surface rights other than underground issues, that is federal governments on property,’” Jesus added.
“Requesting more funding going up to congressional leadership would be more positive way to try to take these weights off reservation,” she said.
Read the full story in the May 23, edition of the Navajo Times.
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