Environment | Law

Navajo Nation sues EPA over power plant permit

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The Navajo Nation made good on its promise to sue the Environmental Protection Agency over a permit for its coal-fired power plant.

The tribe says EPA is dragging its feet on an air permit application for the proposed Desert Rock Energy Project, a venture of the tribe and energy company Sithe Global. "Time is money," Steven Begay, the general manager, told the Associated Press. "The longer we wait, the more money we spend ... and we don't want to do that. We want to move forward."

The EPA has been taking public comments on the $3 billion, 1,500-megawatt facility. A spokesperson said more than 1,000 comments have been received.

"Typically it doesn't take this long, but there is really no normal time frame," Margot Perez-Sullivan told the AP. "It really depends on the complexity of the project, and in this case, it is a complex process."

Tribal members who live near the project site outside of Shiprock, New Mexico, oppose the power plant. They say the power plant will harm the environment and cultural sites.

Get the Story:
Navajo Enterprise Sues EPA Over Proposed Power Plant (AP 3/19)

Relevant Links:
Desert Rock Clean Air Act Proposed PSD Permit - http://www.epa.gov/region09/air/permit
Desert Rock Energy Project, BIA site - http://www.desertrockenergy.com
Desert Rock Energy Project, company site - http://www.desertrockenergyproject.com
Dine Citizens Against Ruining our Environment - http://www.dinecare.org