Navajo President Asks For Richardson's Help

Navajo president asks for Richardson's help

Associated Press (AP)

August 27, 2005

SANTA FE -- Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. has asked for Gov. Bill Richardson's help in stopping a Canadian company from getting permission to mine uranium on tribal land in northwestern New Mexico.

Shirley met with Richardson on Tuesday to talk about the plans of Strathmore Minerals Corp., which has opened an office in Santa Fe and plans to pursue permits to mine uranium at two sites in McKinley County, including an area near Church Rock on the Navajo Nation.

Shirley signed legislation in April that bans uranium mining and processing on the tribe's land, which spans parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

"The Navajo Nation as a government and a people has said we're not going to have uranium mining on Navajoland or in Navajo Country," Shirley said. "We'd like to see that law stick."

There is currently no uranium mining on the reservation, which covers 27,000 square miles in the Four Corners area and holds one of the world's largest deposits of uranium ore.

Mining companies began blasting holes on Navajo land in the 1940s and operations continued for nearly 40 years until decreased demand closed the mines. By then, the Navajos were left with radiation sickness, contaminated tailings and abandoned mines.

To avoid repeating the past, Navajo leaders and grassroots organizations have been working for years to keep mining from starting again.

Strathmore officials have met with the governor's office in hopes of gaining state approval to reopen the Church Rock and Roca Honda mines it purchased from Kerr McGee Nuclear and Rio Algom.

Shirley said Richardson assured him he would not take action without consulting with the Navajo Nation.

"Because of exposure to uranium, many of my medicine people have died, many of my elderly have died," Shirley said. "I'd sure hate to go back there. Too many of my people have died."

Strathmore, in a news release issued earlier this month, said it was seeking the permits to mine in New Mexico based on the extensive drilling that has already been done in the area and the favorable feasibility studies done by previous owners. The company also said the historical production from adjacent properties was promising.

The company said it was preparing documents needed for permitting, including an archaeological and cultural resources clearance, hydrological evaluations, spill prevention and a reclamation plan.

Studies of the mine sites are scheduled to begin next spring, the company said.

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