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Al Jazeera: Moapa Band blames coal plant for health problems





The Moapa Band of Paiute Indians in Nevada is suing an energy company and the Environmental Protection Agency over a coal-fired power plant next to the reservation:
Many tribe members believe the coal ash has caused asthma attacks, cancer, heart disease and even some premature deaths among the 200 residents living here. They've noticed these illnesses since the 1980s, and can't point to an exact number of deaths linked to the plant. But Vicki Simmons, who sits on the tribe’s environmental committee, said it includes her brother.

“My brother worked down at that plant. He was 31 years old when he passed away,” said Simmons, who heads air quality testing for the reservation. “I just realized how many sick people there are — people I work with, my neighbors and the people that live next to them. So it started having a pattern to me.”

A small hill overlooks the tribe's cemetery, which sits next to the power station.

“Whoever could speak, they did. A lot of those people are dead, or now they're ill,” Simmons added as she stood on the hill. “People are just dropping like flies.”

Get the Story:
David vs. Goliath: A tiny tribe takes on big energy (Al Jazeera America 4/29)

Related Stories:
Moapa Band sues energy company over waste at power facility (08/09)
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Moapa Band to file second lawsuit over coal-fired power plant (03/26)
Moapa Band files lawsuit over EPA standards at coal fired plant (10/23)

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