WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, July 9, Navajo Nation President Nygren visited Washington, D.C., to advocate for disaster assistance with federal agencies in response to the devastation caused by the Oak Ridge fire near Window Rock.
President Nygren first met with senior leaders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including Acting Assistant Administrator for Recovery, Paul Judson; Regional Administrator for Region IX, Bob Fenton; and National Tribal Affairs Advisor, Yawna Allen (Quapaw Nation).
President Nygren spoke of the scope of the fire, which is now 96% contained as of July 11 and has not affected any structures despite burning over 11,000 acres, and the significant impact it has had on the spiritual and financial lives of the area’s residents. Many residents are unable to graze their livestock on these burned lands and are looking for other options.
President Nygren also commended the BIA Navajo Region’s efforts on the fire and praised Regional Director Deborah Shirley’s dedication to the response. “I am very thankful at just how much BIA [Navajo Region] stepped up in our moment of need,” said President Nygren.
Regional Administrator Fenton asked President Nygren about visiting the Nation in the coming weeks to meet with emergency management leaders once the fire response has been handled and said he would develop a list of resources available from other federal agencies like USDA that the Nation can use to assist in recovery efforts ahead of his visit.
Afterwards, President Nygren met with senior leadership from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss the wildfire response, future disaster preparedness, and long-term environmental planning on the Nation.
The meeting with EPA included key officials from the EPA’s leadership: Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), John Busterud; Senior Advisor to the Administrator, Usha Turner; Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs, Victoria Tran; and Acting Director of the American Indian Environmental Office, Lisa Berrios
The opening discussion focused on the Oak Ridge Fire. President Nygren expressed his appreciation to the EPA and EPA Region 9 for their swift emergency response and coordination, which ensured the protection of Navajo lands and communities. EPA Region 9 reported that no hazardous materials, debris, or air quality concerns have been detected to date. However, the agency has committed to remain engaged and ready to act pending the final impact assessment from the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA officials noted that while the fire currently does not trigger emergency actions under the Safe Drinking Water Act or the Clean Air Act, it remains under continuous monitoring and is “mission assessment ready” if formally declared. This led to a broader conversation about building future response capacity for both natural and man-made disasters, especially as the Navajo Nation expands its renewable energy and natural gas initiatives.
President Nygren emphasized the importance of establishing mitigation and containment protocols and urged the EPA to support these efforts with technical assistance and training.
In addition to emergency response, President Nygren raised the issue of solid waste infrastructure on the Navajo Nation with the EPA. Currently, the Navajo Nation operates transfer stations at select chapter houses but must transfer these to outside landfills.
President Nygren inquired about the permitting process for developing regional landfills on Navajo land, which would significantly reduce long-term waste management expenses. The EPA said it committed to working with the Nation to explore funding options for a feasibility study.
President Nygren concluded the meeting by reiterating the importance of protecting natural resources, particularly watersheds, and expressed his appreciation for the EPA’s continued partnership. He emphasized the Nation’s readiness to collaborate on long-term strategies that promote public health, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development for the Navajo people.
