Navajo Nation Council hears from farmers about Gold King Mine Spill funds
NENAHNEZAD, NM — On
May 11, Navajo Nation Council
delegates met with Navajo farmers
regarding a proposed legislation that
would create the San Juan River
Mitigation Fund.
The fund will include all net
proceeds and earnings awarded to
the Navajo Nation through litigation
settlements resulting from the Gold
King Mine spill.
Rickie Nez (Nenahnezad,
Newcomb, San Juan, Tiis Tsoh
Sikaad, Tse’Daa’Kaan, Upper
Fruitland), Eugenia Charles-Newton
(Shiprock), and Curtis Yanito
(Mexican Water, Aneth, Teecnospos,
Tółikan, Red Mesa) hosted the
meeting in Nenahnezad, New
Mexico.
On Aug. 5, 2015, contractors
for the Environmental Protection
Agency were monitoring seepage
in the abandoned Gold King Mine
near Silverton, Colorado, when it
breached and released three million
gallons of waste into a tributary of
the Animas River, which led into the
San Juan River and affected many
Navajo farmers’ ability to irrigate
their crops, which led to financial
losses.
In June 2022, the Navajo
Nation Department of Justice
announced a settlement with the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency totaling $31 million. In
February, Delegate Nez introduced
Legislation No. 0033-23 to create
the fund. During the Council’s recent
spring session, he requested that the
legislation be tabled by the Navajo
Nation Council, to allow time for
community meetings to be held to
receive input and recommendations
from Navajo farmers on the use of
the settlement funds.
Delegate Nez stated, “The Gold
King Mine spill was devastating
for many Navajo farmers and their
families. They depend on their
farms for their livelihood so it’s
very important that we hear from
them before we move forward with
legislation. We have a duty to make
sure that their voices are heard
and that their input is a part of this
important discussion. We have to
serve the best interest of the farmers
who were directly impacted.”
At the request of Delegate Nez,
Navajo Nation Attorney General
Ethel Branch attended the meeting
to explain that of the $31 million,
$3 million is in the form of grant
funding that the Navajo Nation will
have to apply for, and $14.5 million
is for legal fees and expenses, which
leaves $13.5 million that will be
deposited into the “San Juan River
Mitigation Fund” if the legislation is
approved.
“Our farmers are the backbone
of America. On the Navajo Nation,
farmers provide hay for our animals
and also grow traditional food for
our family. The Gold King Mine
Spill devastated communities up and
down the San Juan River but it also
destroyed farms and the livelihood
of many. Our intent in meeting with
farmers is to hear what they want to
do with the GKM settlement. We
hope the settlement money will be
used to restore farms and improve
farming for generations to come,”
stated Delegate Charles- Newton.
During the meeting, community
members spoke about the
importance of ensuring that farmers
are compensated for their losses,
including those who did not receive
individual settlement funds from the
federal government. Several of the
recommendations for the use of the
funds included equal payout for farm
permittees and creating an interest bearing account. Additionally,
several individuals recommended
using the funds for projects along
the river including the rehabilitation
of irrigation canals, infrastructure
improvements, operations and
maintenance, materials and
equipment, culvert diversion, pump
station/insulation, rodent control,
research the cost of proper operations
and maintenance, construction of a
filter station and reservoirs.
Speaker Crystalyne Curley was
also in attendance to offer her support
and to hear the concerns from the
Navajo farmers and community
members. Delegate Charles-Newton
informed the community that another
meeting will be held in Shiprock,
N.M. May 18 to receive additional
input on the establishment of the San
Juan River Mitigation Fund.
Information provided by the
Navajo Nation Council
Navajo Nation Council hears from farmers about Gold King Mine Spill funds
NENAHNEZAD, NM — On
May 11, Navajo Nation Council
delegates met with Navajo farmers
regarding a proposed legislation that
would create the San Juan River
Mitigation Fund.
The fund will include all net
proceeds and earnings awarded to
the Navajo Nation through litigation
settlements resulting from the Gold
King Mine spill.
Rickie Nez (Nenahnezad,
Newcomb, San Juan, Tiis Tsoh
Sikaad, Tse’Daa’Kaan, Upper
Fruitland), Eugenia Charles-Newton
(Shiprock), and Curtis Yanito
(Mexican Water, Aneth, Teecnospos,
Tółikan, Red Mesa) hosted the
meeting in Nenahnezad, New
Mexico.
On Aug. 5, 2015, contractors
for the Environmental Protection
Agency were monitoring seepage
in the abandoned Gold King Mine
near Silverton, Colorado, when it
breached and released three million
gallons of waste into a tributary of
the Animas River, which led into the
San Juan River and affected many
Navajo farmers’ ability to irrigate
their crops, which led to financial
losses.
In June 2022, the Navajo
Nation Department of Justice
announced a settlement with the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency totaling $31 million. In
February, Delegate Nez introduced
Legislation No. 0033-23 to create
the fund. During the Council’s recent
spring session, he requested that the
legislation be tabled by the Navajo
Nation Council, to allow time for
community meetings to be held to
receive input and recommendations
from Navajo farmers on the use of
the settlement funds.
Delegate Nez stated, “The Gold
King Mine spill was devastating
for many Navajo farmers and their
families. They depend on their
farms for their livelihood so it’s
very important that we hear from
them before we move forward with
legislation. We have a duty to make
sure that their voices are heard
and that their input is a part of this
important discussion. We have to
serve the best interest of the farmers
who were directly impacted.”
At the request of Delegate Nez,
Navajo Nation Attorney General
Ethel Branch attended the meeting
to explain that of the $31 million,
$3 million is in the form of grant
funding that the Navajo Nation will
have to apply for, and $14.5 million
is for legal fees and expenses, which
leaves $13.5 million that will be
deposited into the “San Juan River
Mitigation Fund” if the legislation is
approved.
“Our farmers are the backbone
of America. On the Navajo Nation,
farmers provide hay for our animals
and also grow traditional food for
our family. The Gold King Mine
Spill devastated communities up and
down the San Juan River but it also
destroyed farms and the livelihood
of many. Our intent in meeting with
farmers is to hear what they want to
do with the GKM settlement. We
hope the settlement money will be
used to restore farms and improve
farming for generations to come,”
stated Delegate Charles- Newton.
During the meeting, community
members spoke about the
importance of ensuring that farmers
are compensated for their losses,
including those who did not receive
individual settlement funds from the
federal government. Several of the
recommendations for the use of the
funds included equal payout for farm
permittees and creating an interest bearing account. Additionally,
several individuals recommended
using the funds for projects along
the river including the rehabilitation
of irrigation canals, infrastructure
improvements, operations and
maintenance, materials and
equipment, culvert diversion, pump
station/insulation, rodent control,
research the cost of proper operations
and maintenance, construction of a
filter station and reservoirs.
Speaker Crystalyne Curley was
also in attendance to offer her support
and to hear the concerns from the
Navajo farmers and community
members. Delegate Charles-Newton
informed the community that another
meeting will be held in Shiprock,
N.M. May 18 to receive additional
input on the establishment of the San
Juan River Mitigation Fund.
Information provided by the
Navajo Nation Council