OSM’s “Record of Decision” is the final stage of the permitting process for the proposed “Black Mesa Project,” which would grant Peabody Coal Company a life-of-mine permit for the “Black Mesa Complex” in northern Arizona.

Black Mesa Water Coalition, a Navajo and Hopi citizens organization working on indigenous sovereignty and environmental protection, has vowed to stop Peabody from causing further harm to Black Mesa.  “We are looking into our options for how to stop this process from moving forward, including legal action.  The permitting process was flawed and clearly rushed through before President Bush leaves office,” said Enei Begaye, Co-Director of Black Mesa Water Coalition.

Wahleah Johns, Co-Director of Black Mesa Water Coalition said, “This decision will uproot the sacred connection that we have to land, water, and all living things on Black Mesa.  Black Mesa is a female mountain, sacred to the Navajo people, and has been brutally scarred from over 30 years of coal mining activity and the resulting loss of 60 percent of our only source of drinking water.  Our ancestors fought hard to retain our homelands, but even now in 2008 we are up against the same battle to protect our homelands.  The abuse to mother earth needs to stop.”

This announcement is consistent with the Bush Administration’s history of releasing controversial decisions on Friday evenings and before holidays.  Samantha Honani, a Hopi Tewa tribal member, said, “This is the worst kind of Christmas present.  The Hopi Tewa people will not be in holiday bliss this Christmas but in deep thought and contemplation of where we are as a tribe and people without a Tribal Leader given this devastating Record of Decision.”

A few weeks ago, a delegation of 40 Navajo and Hopi tribal members, including Hopi Tribal Chairman Ben Nuvamsa, met with the U.S. Office of Surface Mining at their Denver headquarters in hopes of delaying OSM’s decision.  For three hours the Navajo and Hopi representatives met with OSM officials and presented documents and petitions ratified by their communities that urge OSM to suspend their decision.   Their unified statement read, “Although we represent two different tribes, we come today united to protect our shared land and water.  Water is the life source to both our peoples, and Peabody has failed to understand this connection.  If the Office of Surface Mining grants a permit to Peabody, our way of life and spiritual balance will be severely disrupted and altered.  Currently, we are already suffering the damage this industry has caused over the past 30 years.  We believe OSM has been negligent in fulfilling the NEPA process, and if OSM issues a “Record of Decision” that would be a breach of the Federal Trust Responsibility.  United we ask the Office of Surface Mining to stop the “Record of Decision” process.”