Grassroots activists on the Hopi and Navajo reservations are looking forward to December 31, 2005, with hope and skepticism.

That's the date they hope Peabody Energy's coal mines in northeastern Arizona will stop operating. But even after after decades of lobbying tribal, federal and other officials, they are skeptical that it will actually happen.

The battle over the mines began in the 1970s when residents of the area noticed a drop-off in their water supply. They blamed Peabody, which uses water to transport coal slurry 275 miles to a generating in Nevada, where it is used to power homes in southern California.

Peabody denies it has used up the water and says it has the science to prove it. Grassroots activists, however, have convinced the Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and the Department of Interior to pressure Peabody to find another source.

But the shutdown of the mines has an economic impact that some fear will be hard to resist. According to The Los Angeles Times, one-third of the Hopi tribe's annual general fund, or $7.7 million, and 25% of the Navajo Nation's general operating fund, or $30 million per year, come from the Peabody operation.

Get the Story:
Gathering Clouds (The Los Angeles Times 6/6)
pwlat

Relevant Links:
Hopi Tribe - http://www.hopi.nsn.us
Navajo Nation - http://www.navajo.org
Peabody Energy - http://www.peabodyenergy.com

Related Stories:
Judge won't dismiss Navajo Nation suit against Peabody (04/27)
Peabody continues top-level access at Interior (03/17)
Court opens window for Navajo Nation trust suit (10/27)
Peabody seeks to dismiss Navajo Nation claim (06/18)
Court appears ready to toss Peabody appeal (04/15)
Supreme Court's trust rulings criticized (4/14)
Navajo Nation back in court over Peabody lease (4/8)
Effects of Supreme Court decision debated (03/07)
High court ruling makes 'passive' trustee of U.S. (3/5)
A mixed bag for Indian trust (3/5)
Supreme Court issues trust decisions (3/4)
Swimmer can't recall Navajo involvement (02/13)
Panel predicts Apache victory (12/4)
Navajo 'deception' gets Supreme Court hearing (12/03)
Peabody sides with Bush administration on trust (09/04)
Legal tactics land Peabody in hot seat (7/22)
Navajo royalty case accepted (6/4)
Don Hodel's Navajo Folly (6/4)
Supreme Court accepts Navajo trust case (6/3)
Navajo royalty case up for review (5/30)
Supreme Court considers 'deception' of trust (5/22)
Action due on Navajo trust case (5/20)
Bush wants Navajo ruling reversed (3/27)
Court rules Navajo Nation owed money (8/14)