Residents grill DPA over water

By Brian Hassler
Staff Writer

SANOSTEE — On Sunday, Sanostee chapter members had plenty of questions for the Diné Power Authority.

The chapter had invited DPA general manager Steven Begay to its monthly meeting to address chapter members concerning wells that were being considered for the Sanostee chapter.

The use of 4,500 acre feet of water per year has been approved by the Resources Committee for a Large Water User Master Agreement to provide water for the Desert Rock Power Plant.

But Begay's appearance, which came after chapter members noticed well sites appearing in the chapter, played a part in an emotional three and a half hours of questions and answers.

"Mr. Begay was getting frustrated and was frustrated and upset because things weren't going his way," said Sarah White, who was in the audience. "In this chapter, we told him over and over that we didn't want the plant or the water to be used and he continued to push it."

By the time Begay had completed his presentation, chapter members had passed its second resolution concerning the power plant.

Originally chapter members had approved a resolution supporting the Burnham chapter in its opposition of the power plant and on Sunday the chapter approved, by a vote of 64-0, a resolution that opposed the power plant and the use of water from the chapter for the plant.

"We're going to look at what it means to the Navajo Nation for a chapter resolution to object to a decision and what the Navajo Nation is doing as far as it's approval of the key documents," said Begay. "There will be more meetings and discussion about the project. As I understand, it's not required for a chapter to approve, but if it's opposing, the Navajo Nation might reconsider it. In this case, if we continue to go for water southwest of Table Mesa, we'll continue to work with Sanostee."

While chapter members argued with Begay over the possibility of water usage in the chapter, Begay confirmed earlier comments that the water that is going to be used isn't the property of the chapter but belongs to the Navajo Nation.

"We're continuing as it is," added Begay. "Hearing from community, it was emotional and there was some generalizations that weren't true that people think are the case. The resources are still there and the enterprise is still trying to move forward."

Begay added that despite the objections of the chapter, the DPA will continue to report to the chapter concerning major changes or issues but that the approval from the Navajo Nation concerning the water was still the main stamp of approval that the DPA and Sithe Global needed to make use of the water.

"The meeting turned out pretty good," said White. "There were so many discussions and the people that lived there didn't know that the water was going to be used. They really wanted to talk to Sithe Global about their concerns. One man even asked why these companies turn our own people against each other and that they aren't ever there. They need to be here."

— Brian Hassler is The Independent's Four Corners reporter based in Shiprock. Contact him at (505) 360-7862 or via email at brianhassler@hotmail.com