The Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation are in talks with Peabody Energy over the future of the Black Mesa mines in northern Arizona and a power plant in Nevada.

The Hopi and Navajo tribes depend on jobs and revenue from the mines. Peabody operates the mines.

The tribes fear Peabody will shut down the mines due to the closure of the Mohave Generating Station in Nevada. The mines are the only source of coal to the power plant. Without the power plant, the mines would appear to have no reason to operate.

Southern California Edison Co operates the power plant but is resisting $1 billion in anti-pollution upgrades. The company says it won't spend the money to keep the plant open without guarantees from the Hopi and Navajo tribes.

The tribes have environmental concerns over the way the Peabody mines are operated. But Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. said the parties are near an agreement to resolve water and other issues.

Get the Story:
Deal May Be Near on Power Plant (The Los Angeles Times 11/8)
pwday

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

Related Stories:
Former Hopi chair: Hopis force action on Peabody (11/3)
Hopi chairman warns of losses due to plant closure (03/24)
DOI office concludes field hearings on Peabody permit (01/20)
Supreme Court takes action on Indian law cases (01/11)
Decision could keep power plant open past 2005 (12/15)
Top Interior official resigns from Bush administration (12/08)
Peabody takes coal lease dispute to high court (12/01)
Tribes will be hardest hit by power plant closure (10/19)
Company agrees to fund Black Mesa water study (10/14)
Tribes fear shutdown of Peabody's coal mines (08/17)
Peabody loses another round in Navajo coal lease fight (06/16)
Tribes seek conditional permit for generation station (6/15)
Grassroots battle against Peabody sees success (06/07)
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)