Navajo president: EPA ‘abandoned’ us

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy told Congress on Wednesday that no one at her agency has been fired or punished for the accidental release of 3 million gallons of wastewater into the Animas River, and she tried to reassure senators who questioned the credibility of investigations into the accident.

Also Wednesday, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that a toxic wastewater spill at the Gold King Mine near Silverton, Colo., has harmed Navajo farmers and that his people feel “abandoned” by the EPA.

The Aug. 5 accident caused by EPA contractors trying to secure the inactive Gold King Mine sent wastewater containing lead, arsenic and other metals into Cement Creek. The contaminated water flowed into the Animas River and continued downstream past Durango, Colo., into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Begaye complained that it took two days for the EPA to notify the Navajo government and demanded immediate compensation for financial damage.

The Navajo government was forced to shut off water from the San Juan to its farmers after the spill, and many of those farmers have said their crops wilted and died.

Read more: http://www.abqjournal.com/645414/news/navajo-president-epa-abandoned-us.html (Albuquerque Journal)

[elehhhhna]

1. don't the contractors carry gobs of liability insurance?

[TexasTowelie]

2. I believe that there are some allegations that the contractors were told by the EPA

told the contractors to not pump the mines--but whether those are allegations or conspiracy theories is up for debate. If true, then the contractors may not be liable.

[yeoman6987]

3. 6-weeks ago and they want compensation now?

They deserve it but government or private business doesn't work that fast. GM just paid a big settlement from 5 years ago. They will get compensated but much later.

[liberal_at_heart]

5. farmers can't wait 5 years, not that the company responsible or the EPA care.

[jberryhill]

4. That's not what this is about

Begaye has discouraged farmers from submitting damage claims because of his misunderstanding of how the FTCA process works, and this hearing was for the purpose of grandstanding on "the evil EPA". There is political hay to be made here.

The investigation is in the jurisdiction of the DOI, not the EPA, which is damned if they do and damned if they don't. Essentially if the EPA were investigating the incident, it would be biased. So, instead, let's beat them for not conducting an investigation.

You might recall discussions here a while back about a proposed shopping center and tourist trap to be built upstream of the Grand Canyon National Park on Navajo land, including an aerial ride to the floor.

This comes at a convenient time for Begaye, who signed an agreement with the developers while denying he supports the project.

http://skift.com/2015/05/16/navajo-nations-new-president-reverses-support-for-grand-canyon-tram/

Newly inaugurated Navajo President Russell Begaye stood before hundreds of people at his inauguration ceremony and signed a document stating he would pursue development of an aerial tram at the Grand Canyon.

A day later, on Wednesday, Begaye issued a statement saying he’s opposed to the project and always has been. His spokesman Eric Descheenie said Begaye was blindsided by the agreement and didn’t actually read what he signed.

---

However the prevailing "Noble Savage" sentiment at DU is to consider any Native American elected official to have some sort of special wisdom, in contrast to politicians anywhere else.

His qualifications to administer a large organization with complex business interests, resources and legal status?


Begaye entered the political arena in public service to the Navajo Nation in 2011, after serving four years as director of missions for the San Juan Baptist Association in Farmington, N.M. Previously, he retired from a 30-year career as a missionary, church planter and foreign language outreach director with the North American Mission Board, and had served as a preacher while earning a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

[Zorra]

6. “The Navajo Nation does not trust the EPA, and we expect them

to be held fully accountable for what they have done to my people and all people who live along the San Juan and Animas rivers,” Begaye said.

^"Special wisdom".^

[Zorra]

7. Native American tribes win $940 million in suit against the feds

Since 2010, the departments have settled more than 80 similar lawsuits "alleging breach of trust for federal mismanagement of their financial assets and natural resources" for $2.5 billion, the departments stated.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/native-american-tribes-win-940-million-in-suit-against-the-feds/article/2572351

"Special wisdom"

[lonestarnot]

8. Yikes.