Navajo Mine expansion deemed illegal

Coal-fired power has hit another major roadblock in the Four Corners. On Oct. 28, a federal judge voided the expansion of the Navajo Mine, citing numerous failures to evaluate the environmental and cultural impacts of the 4,800-acre project. The Navajo Mine is owned by BHP Billiton and supplies coal to the Four Corners Power Plant near Farmington, one of the nation’s biggest polluters and the country’s single biggest source of smog-causing nitrogen oxide.

Native watchdog group Diné CARE and the San Juan Citizens Alliance, a Four Corners conservation group, filed suit against the Navajo Mine shortly after the expansion was approved in 2005. The groups alleged that the federal Office of Surface Mining did not meet the basic requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. In particular, they highlighted the office’s failure to assess the impacts of continuing to dump toxic coal-ash waste from nearby power plants back into the mine. The lawsuit went on to argue that the OSM neglected to consider the forced relocation of Navajo residents and impacts on burial grounds and historical sites.

In his decision, District Judge John L. Kane agreed with many of the arguments in the lawsuit. As a result of the ruling, the OSM will have to go back to square one and completely reassess the expansion’s impacts.

“In approving the huge mine with such little oversight, OSM demonstrated their cozy relationship with the mining industry, which appears to take precedent over the concern of the health, culture or history of the Navajo people,” said Lori Goodman, of Diné CARE. “Obviously, their methods didn’t fly with the law or the judge. This mine expansion would have a huge impact on many people, on our water, our health and our way of life. We are very grateful for the outcome.”

Kane’s decision also faulted OSM for failing to notify the Navajo residents of the region, the people who would be affected by the proposed mine expansion. The office gathered not a single public comment on the expansion.

“What OSM did was appalling,” said Mike Eisenfeld of the San Juan Citizens Alliance. “A project of this size requires a full-scale environmental review, yet the agency somehow thought they could get away with a simple check list. This was a complete lack of regard for the public trust.”

Among the issues that OSM will have to analyze are the effects of disposing toxic coal-ash waste and the expansion’s impacts on at least 73 cultural sites, 34 of which are eligible for inclusion the National Register of Historic Sites.

In other news, the State of New Mexico enacted a bold policy last week that promises to cross state lines. On Nov. 2, the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board adopted the most comprehensive greenhouse gas regulations in the nation. The new rules will take effect in 2012 and force power plants and the oil and gas sector to radically curb their emissions.

“I applaud the board’s leadership and its willingness to take a stand for New Mexico’s future,” said New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry. “This is a great opportunity to promote the state’s clean energy economy by reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions.”

The new regulations were adopted by a vote of 4-3 and will enable the state to participate in the Western Climate Initiative, a regional greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program. The WCI is a collaborative of seven western states and four Canadian provinces that are developing strategies to address climate change.

When the new program begins in 2012, it will affect about 63 large industrial sources in New Mexico. Each source will have to reduce its emissions by 2 percent per year until 2020 or acquire emissions credits from other participants. New Mexico hopes that the move will not only curb pollution but will help jumpstart a clean energy economy. Advocates argue that the program will put the Land of Enchantment out in front of other states in attracting clean energy development and in line for tens of thousands of jobs from an estimated half-trillion-dollar clean energy investment pool.

Local peace rally defies hate group

This week, Durango responded to threats by a hate group with a community peace rally. The rally, held in support of peace, tolerance and compassion, took place Nov. 9 and was in response to Westboro Baptist Church’s plan to picket a local screening of the film “The Anatomy of Hate.” The documentary explores various ideologies of hate and how we as a species can overcome them. Though church members pulled a no-show, more than 1,000 community members turned out for the rally.  

The Westboro Baptist Church, based in Kansas, holds extreme views against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and often conducts protests across the country. It is most notorious for its picketing of gay military members’ funerals. The college got in contact with the Anti-Defamation League to seek advice on handling the protest. The League has dealt with the WBC in the past and has been very helpful in offering advice to many different organizations.

The ADL advised, “A primary goal of the WBC is to garner publicity and to spread their message through tactics that grab media attention. The WBC has a ‘loud bark,’ but communities should resist directly engaging with them.”

In response, PRISM and the Fort Lewis College Office of the President opted to hold a rally to celebrate the diversity and unity within the Durango community. The rally began at the McPherson Chapel on the Fort Lewis College Rim, and then proceeded to the football field. The screening of “The Anatomy of Hate” continued as planned.

Devo Sweet Elite cycling team forms

Durango will roll into the 2011 season with a new under-25 mountain bike racing team. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Devo Sweet Elite is made up of some of the top young riders in the world and promises to see its share of podium time next year.

The team includes Tad Elliott, the 2008 and 2010 U23 Mountain Bike National Champion; Teal Stetson-Lee, the 2009 Collegiate Cyclocross National Champion; Colton Andersen, a Fort Lewis College Nationals Team Member in 2010; Howard Grotts, the 2010 Collegiate Mountain Bike Short Track and Cross Country Champion; and Alicia Rose Pastore, 2010 Cat 1 17-18 Mountain Bike National Champion.

Chris Wherry, U.S. Pro Road National Champion and owner of The Hub training center, will serve as team manager. Joey Thompson, veteran Fort Lewis College cyclist, will be team coach.

The team was formed to capitalize on the successes of Durango DEVO, the local youth cycling program, and FLC Cycling, and offer a springboard for outstanding Durango talent into upper levels of competition.  

– Will Sands