Post by Okwes on Feb 23, 2007 22:32:46 GMT -5
Protesters stop work at Desert Rock
By Lisa Meerts The Daily Times
Article Launched:12/14/2006 12:00:00 AM MST
BURNHAM — Preliminary survey work at the site of a proposed power
plant was stopped Wednesday after a group of Navajo protesters, who
camped there overnight Tuesday, said they would blockade the road unless
they were shown permits and documentation.
Nathan Plagens, Sithe Global director of project development, said a
contractor for the Desert Rock Energy Company started working at the
site, located outside Burnham, in November and expected to continue
through February. The contractor planned to drill two water wells and
sample the soil to determine the geological character of the land. He
said the information gathered will be put in the Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Desert Rock Power Plant.
One well would monitor water quality and the second would be a test
well, he said.
"Some of these folks may think we're building the project but we're not.
We're gaining additional information to help us better assess the
project," Plagens said.
Houston-based Sithe Global and the tribe's Dine Power Authority (DPA)
plan to build the 1,500-megawatt, $2.5 billion power plant. The power
plant would bring in about $50 million a year in taxes and royalty
payments to the Navajo Nation, making it the largest economic
development project ever undertaken by the tribe.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft air permit for
the power plant this summer and could release an EIS within the next few
months. Sithe Global and the DPA need both in order to begin
construction.
Alice D. Gilmore, who has lived on the site of the proposed power plant
since childhood, and her husband, Julius, said through a translator she
has no intention of leaving the land to make way for the power plant.
Several of her family members and other protesters set up a camp on the
road and said they will not leave until Sithe Global shows them they
have permission to be on the land.
Gilmore and others said no one has listened to their complaints or paid
attention when they say they do not want the power plant on their land.
"Nobody's explaining anything to us and nobody wants to listen," said
Elouise Brown, a member of Dooda Desert Rock. "We're not leaving until
they show us the documents."
The protesters stood on the dirt road on Wednesday afternoon while
Navajo Nation Police Department Lt. Nelson Peterson approached, warning
them he would have to arrest them unless they stepped aside within two
minutes. When told the contractor wanted only to pick up his equipment
so it would not be vandalized, they allowed the vehicles through.
The group had stockpiled water, food and fire wood and planned to sleep
there in a tent until they received the documents. The group ranged in
size from five to about 10 people throughout Wednesday afternoon.
Steven C. Begay, DPA general manager, said his company showed the
necessary permits and documentation to the Shiprock Police Department on
Wednesday morning. He hoped to organize a meeting with the Nenahnezad
Chapter officials as well as the Navajo vice president and president to
deal with the situation.
"We want to see if there's a diplomatic, holistic, cultural, whatever
you call it, way to meet with them and resolve this as quickly as
possible," Begay said, adding Sithe Global will determine when to send
the contractor back on site.
Frank Maisano, spokesman for Sithe Global, said he recognizes
construction at the power plant site evokes a strong emotional response
from many people. However, he said everyone has had ample opportunity to
present comment on the project. The Navajo Nation Council supports the
power plant, voting 66 to 7 to lease the land for the power plant.
"They're (the protesters) blocking the EIS process, the same one they
say has to happen before anything else can happen," he said. "They're
standing in the way of that progress."
Lucy A. Willie, a 63-year-old Navajo elder who stood at the blockade,
said that is exactly what she wants to do.
"I don't want to mess around with this Mother Earth," she said. "It's a
special place for generations to live, not mess up."
By Lisa Meerts The Daily Times
Article Launched:12/14/2006 12:00:00 AM MST
BURNHAM — Preliminary survey work at the site of a proposed power
plant was stopped Wednesday after a group of Navajo protesters, who
camped there overnight Tuesday, said they would blockade the road unless
they were shown permits and documentation.
Nathan Plagens, Sithe Global director of project development, said a
contractor for the Desert Rock Energy Company started working at the
site, located outside Burnham, in November and expected to continue
through February. The contractor planned to drill two water wells and
sample the soil to determine the geological character of the land. He
said the information gathered will be put in the Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Desert Rock Power Plant.
One well would monitor water quality and the second would be a test
well, he said.
"Some of these folks may think we're building the project but we're not.
We're gaining additional information to help us better assess the
project," Plagens said.
Houston-based Sithe Global and the tribe's Dine Power Authority (DPA)
plan to build the 1,500-megawatt, $2.5 billion power plant. The power
plant would bring in about $50 million a year in taxes and royalty
payments to the Navajo Nation, making it the largest economic
development project ever undertaken by the tribe.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a draft air permit for
the power plant this summer and could release an EIS within the next few
months. Sithe Global and the DPA need both in order to begin
construction.
Alice D. Gilmore, who has lived on the site of the proposed power plant
since childhood, and her husband, Julius, said through a translator she
has no intention of leaving the land to make way for the power plant.
Several of her family members and other protesters set up a camp on the
road and said they will not leave until Sithe Global shows them they
have permission to be on the land.
Gilmore and others said no one has listened to their complaints or paid
attention when they say they do not want the power plant on their land.
"Nobody's explaining anything to us and nobody wants to listen," said
Elouise Brown, a member of Dooda Desert Rock. "We're not leaving until
they show us the documents."
The protesters stood on the dirt road on Wednesday afternoon while
Navajo Nation Police Department Lt. Nelson Peterson approached, warning
them he would have to arrest them unless they stepped aside within two
minutes. When told the contractor wanted only to pick up his equipment
so it would not be vandalized, they allowed the vehicles through.
The group had stockpiled water, food and fire wood and planned to sleep
there in a tent until they received the documents. The group ranged in
size from five to about 10 people throughout Wednesday afternoon.
Steven C. Begay, DPA general manager, said his company showed the
necessary permits and documentation to the Shiprock Police Department on
Wednesday morning. He hoped to organize a meeting with the Nenahnezad
Chapter officials as well as the Navajo vice president and president to
deal with the situation.
"We want to see if there's a diplomatic, holistic, cultural, whatever
you call it, way to meet with them and resolve this as quickly as
possible," Begay said, adding Sithe Global will determine when to send
the contractor back on site.
Frank Maisano, spokesman for Sithe Global, said he recognizes
construction at the power plant site evokes a strong emotional response
from many people. However, he said everyone has had ample opportunity to
present comment on the project. The Navajo Nation Council supports the
power plant, voting 66 to 7 to lease the land for the power plant.
"They're (the protesters) blocking the EIS process, the same one they
say has to happen before anything else can happen," he said. "They're
standing in the way of that progress."
Lucy A. Willie, a 63-year-old Navajo elder who stood at the blockade,
said that is exactly what she wants to do.
"I don't want to mess around with this Mother Earth," she said. "It's a
special place for generations to live, not mess up."