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| Gold King mine spill: Navajo Nation farmers prohibit Animas river access | Gold King mine spill: Navajo Nation farmers prohibit Animas river access |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Despite watching their sustenance wilt in the summer sun, Navajo Nation tribe farmers near Shiprock, New Mexico, have opted not to reinstate access to river water after a spill at Gold King mine released toxins earlier this month. | Despite watching their sustenance wilt in the summer sun, Navajo Nation tribe farmers near Shiprock, New Mexico, have opted not to reinstate access to river water after a spill at Gold King mine released toxins earlier this month. |
| Related: EPA urges return to normalcy days after toxic Animas river spill | Related: EPA urges return to normalcy days after toxic Animas river spill |
| The water would have revived subsistence agriculture and livestock operations endangered by chronic water shortages since the spill. | The water would have revived subsistence agriculture and livestock operations endangered by chronic water shortages since the spill. |
| Earlier this month, the US Environmental Protection Agency accidentally released 3m gallons of poisonous waste from Colorado’s Gold King mine into the river’s largest tributary, the Animas river. | Earlier this month, the US Environmental Protection Agency accidentally released 3m gallons of poisonous waste from Colorado’s Gold King mine into the river’s largest tributary, the Animas river. |
| Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye met farmers at the Shiprock chapter to announce plans to reopen irrigation canals on Saturday. Instead, the farmers overruled Begaye and voted 104-0, with nine abstaining, to maintain existing closures for a year. | Navajo Nation president Russell Begaye met farmers at the Shiprock chapter to announce plans to reopen irrigation canals on Saturday. Instead, the farmers overruled Begaye and voted 104-0, with nine abstaining, to maintain existing closures for a year. |
| This decision was made despite assurances from both the US EPA and the Navajo Nation EPA that water quality in the Animas and San Juan rivers has returned to pre-spill levels. | This decision was made despite assurances from both the US EPA and the Navajo Nation EPA that water quality in the Animas and San Juan rivers has returned to pre-spill levels. |
| “I’m glad the water samples indicate the water is safe for irrigation use, but I remain concerned over the soil and sediment that lines our river bank,” President Begaye said in a prepared statement. “Every time a heavy storm hits or the soil is disturbed, it can recontaminate the water.” | “I’m glad the water samples indicate the water is safe for irrigation use, but I remain concerned over the soil and sediment that lines our river bank,” President Begaye said in a prepared statement. “Every time a heavy storm hits or the soil is disturbed, it can recontaminate the water.” |
| “There is a lot of concern that farmers have over the US EPA and their testing methods,” Megan Cox, a spokesperson from the Navajo president’s office, told the Guardian. | “There is a lot of concern that farmers have over the US EPA and their testing methods,” Megan Cox, a spokesperson from the Navajo president’s office, told the Guardian. |
| “Please understand this is very stressful for them, and this is their livelihood. They also recognize that people will be concerned about purchasing an agricultural product that has been tainted with unknown quantities of chemicals,” she added. “They are growing organic crops and do not want to harm the land, their crops or any individuals by exposure to these chemicals.” | “Please understand this is very stressful for them, and this is their livelihood. They also recognize that people will be concerned about purchasing an agricultural product that has been tainted with unknown quantities of chemicals,” she added. “They are growing organic crops and do not want to harm the land, their crops or any individuals by exposure to these chemicals.” |
| Joe Ben Jr, Shiprock’s farm board representative, said: “No testing has been done on the Navajo reservation. And the tests were not disclosed; which metals were present? If we knew, we could make a decision.” | Joe Ben Jr, Shiprock’s farm board representative, said: “No testing has been done on the Navajo reservation. And the tests were not disclosed; which metals were present? If we knew, we could make a decision.” |
| On Friday 14 August, Ben Jr rejected water delivered by EPA contractors because it appeared to be contaminated with byproducts of the fracking industry, exacerbating the tribe’s suspicion of the federal agency. | On Friday 14 August, Ben Jr rejected water delivered by EPA contractors because it appeared to be contaminated with byproducts of the fracking industry, exacerbating the tribe’s suspicion of the federal agency. |
| “The water had a pungent smell,” said Franklin Miller, who reports to Ben Jr. “We basically told the EPA their services are no longer needed. Now the BIA is contracting other water hauling companies and their tanks are clean.” | “The water had a pungent smell,” said Franklin Miller, who reports to Ben Jr. “We basically told the EPA their services are no longer needed. Now the BIA is contracting other water hauling companies and their tanks are clean.” |
| With the EPA no longer in the picture, farmers in Shiprock are battling to secure water for their crops and livestock. | With the EPA no longer in the picture, farmers in Shiprock are battling to secure water for their crops and livestock. |
| A woman at the Shiprock chapter who identified herself as a record clerk named Christina said people are standing in line to fill up 50- and 100-gallon jugs from the central water tanker. | A woman at the Shiprock chapter who identified herself as a record clerk named Christina said people are standing in line to fill up 50- and 100-gallon jugs from the central water tanker. |
| “Many of the farmers have big fields, some as large as 19 acres,” she said. “They’re doing their best to keep what they can. They have horses, cows, llamas and goats. And sheep – our main source of meat. | |
| “We have seen people crying. Some people come and they don’t have jugs to haul water.” | “We have seen people crying. Some people come and they don’t have jugs to haul water.” |
| Ben Jr said on Monday that Shiprock is getting one 1,600-gallon tank a day from the NAPI irrigation system and that this water has to be shared among 10,000 people in the community. | Ben Jr said on Monday that Shiprock is getting one 1,600-gallon tank a day from the NAPI irrigation system and that this water has to be shared among 10,000 people in the community. |
| Miller said his main job right now is to organize water hauls to farmers who can’t haul water. | Miller said his main job right now is to organize water hauls to farmers who can’t haul water. |
| If Shiprock doesn’t have access to the San Juan river, other communities are also affected, Miller said. He said area farmers supply food, particularly corn, to the south-west part of the reservation, to places like Kayenta and Tuba City. | If Shiprock doesn’t have access to the San Juan river, other communities are also affected, Miller said. He said area farmers supply food, particularly corn, to the south-west part of the reservation, to places like Kayenta and Tuba City. |
| “Corn is very important to us. We eat every part of the corn. Corn pollen is especially important because we use it in our ceremonies.” | “Corn is very important to us. We eat every part of the corn. Corn pollen is especially important because we use it in our ceremonies.” |
| Miller says they’re not getting any help from outside the reservation. “We are relying on other chapters, donations and we’re going to be fundraising and holding benefit concerts,” he said. | Miller says they’re not getting any help from outside the reservation. “We are relying on other chapters, donations and we’re going to be fundraising and holding benefit concerts,” he said. |
| There is uncertainty within the Navajo community about who has the authority to declare a state of emergency, according to Ben Jr, who has been attending meetings with farmers and other chapters. | There is uncertainty within the Navajo community about who has the authority to declare a state of emergency, according to Ben Jr, who has been attending meetings with farmers and other chapters. |
| There are seven chapters along the San Juan river. | There are seven chapters along the San Juan river. |
| “The president’s office, the council and the resource development community are at odds,” he said. “There is confusion from up above, which is causing confusion in the community. But we are making our stand. | “The president’s office, the council and the resource development community are at odds,” he said. “There is confusion from up above, which is causing confusion in the community. But we are making our stand. |
| “That water is not going on until we can find an alternative source.” | “That water is not going on until we can find an alternative source.” |
| Securing an alternative water source is the only solution for Ben Jr, who said farmers are concerned about contaminating canals with tainted river water. He said the river has to be cleaned up first. | Securing an alternative water source is the only solution for Ben Jr, who said farmers are concerned about contaminating canals with tainted river water. He said the river has to be cleaned up first. |
| “It has to happen naturally,” said Ben Jr. “It’s about a one- to two-year cycle. The monsoons will come and clean the river.” | “It has to happen naturally,” said Ben Jr. “It’s about a one- to two-year cycle. The monsoons will come and clean the river.” |
| Jim Self, the director of the Soil, Water and Plant testing lab at Colorado State University, has been handling water samples taken from the Animas river, closer to the source of the original contamination. | |
| He says if the Navajo farmers are growing organic crops, their concerns could be valid and he recommended they wash any vegetables irrigated with water from the San Juan river. | |
| But he added that by now, any harmful contaminants would have been flushed out. | But he added that by now, any harmful contaminants would have been flushed out. |
| “Flow going through the river at this time has been high because of late snow melt so things are getting flushed out pretty quickly. It’s going to go back to its pre-spill state and should correct itself by springtime,” he said. | “Flow going through the river at this time has been high because of late snow melt so things are getting flushed out pretty quickly. It’s going to go back to its pre-spill state and should correct itself by springtime,” he said. |
| Contaminants released into the river include arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead and perhaps mercury, according to Self. | Contaminants released into the river include arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead and perhaps mercury, according to Self. |
| Melissa May, a natural resource specialist with the San Juan soil and water conservation district, dismissed concerns that future flooding or torrential storms will stir up harmful sediments. | |
| Although she admits nobody can predict the spill’s long-term consequences, she said if water quality at the most concentrated part of the plume has been ruled safe, people further downstream should be “absolutely fine”. | Although she admits nobody can predict the spill’s long-term consequences, she said if water quality at the most concentrated part of the plume has been ruled safe, people further downstream should be “absolutely fine”. |
| “When water is very acidic, metals can be dissolved,” said May. “When they’re not dissolved, it’s a solid, it’s a particle. Health standards are based on dissolved metals, and as far as I know the water quality data at the most concentrated part of the plume was within acceptable levels.” | “When water is very acidic, metals can be dissolved,” said May. “When they’re not dissolved, it’s a solid, it’s a particle. Health standards are based on dissolved metals, and as far as I know the water quality data at the most concentrated part of the plume was within acceptable levels.” |
| Ben Jr was not appeased. | |
| “We have a relationship with farming. It’s an art form. To live in our community is to sustain the continuation of a culture. This is very different than outside the reservation,” he said. | “We have a relationship with farming. It’s an art form. To live in our community is to sustain the continuation of a culture. This is very different than outside the reservation,” he said. |
| “We are a 100% consumption culture. We consume every aspect of our crops and our livestock and we sell our beef. | |
| “We want to ensure a clean water source for generations to come.” | “We want to ensure a clean water source for generations to come.” |
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