WASHINGTON – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren this week asked Arizona and New Mexico congressmen and senators to help the Navajo Nation with pending water settlement issues and environmental concerns that directly affect the Navajo people.
On Tuesday and Wednesday here, the President met with U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Arizona Reps. Eli Crane and Ruben Gallegos, U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s Chief of Staff Michael Brownlie to discuss the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project Amendments Act, and water settlements in Arizona and New Mexico.
The President raised the Nation’s urgent concern to halt the transportation of uranium ore across Navajo land.
“The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project is critical to ensure the health, prosperity and sovereignty of our people,” he said. “We are at a crossroads. Action must be taken to fulfill the promises made and address the environmental injustices that have long impacted our communities.”
The Navajo-Gallup pipeline project was authorized by Congress in 2009. It represents a lifeline designed to deliver clean water to the eastern section of the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the City of Gallup, N.M.
Because of cost overruns and the complexity of construction in remote areas, the project faces a risk of not meeting its current completion deadline of Dec.31, 2024.
President Nygren and congressional leaders deliberated on amendments to increase the project’s authorized cost ceiling, extend the completion deadline to 2029, and make other needed adjustments to ensure the project’s success.
President Nygren asked for the representatives’ support of the proposed New Mexico Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Agreement, which, if approved, will solidify water rights for the Navajo Nation.
He raised the issue of uranium transportation through Navajo lands which he said represents “a grave concern that threatens the health and environment of the Navajo people.”
On April 30, President Nygren signed Navajo Nation Council Resolution CAP-23-24, “An Action Relating to an Emergency; Urgent Request to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., the White House, Members of Congress, and Relevant Federal Agencies to Halt the Transportation of Uranium Through Navajo Nation Lands.”
The legislation demands immediate federal action to stop the movement of uranium ore across Navajo land.
“The unanimous support for this law from our Council reflects the unwavering commitment of our Nation’s leaders to protect our land, our people and our future from the dangers of uranium transport,” President Nygren said. “We implore Congress, President Biden and federal agencies to act swiftly on this resolution.”
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