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Navajo Farmers Air Frustrations To EPA
Navajo farmers met with EPA emergency responders Wednesday to air their frustrations. Last week the EPA unintentionally spilled 3 million gallons of yellow mine waste into the Animas and San Juan Rivers, a main water source for the Navajo.
Laurel Morales
More than 300 people attended a community meeting at the Shiprock Chapter House to voice their concerns to the EPA.
The Navajo Farming Authority has shut off water to more than 750 Navajo farmers and ranchers. Many families are driving great distances to haul water from an alternate source to keep their crops and livestock alive.
The Navajo presidenthas told the EPA to stop handing out forms to the Navajo people that would essentially waive their rights to sue the federal government for future damages.
Navajo Council Delegate Amber Crotty said this isn’t the first time the federal government has wronged the tribe.
"This hurts us to the core," Crotty said. "They need to come here and say, ‘I’m sorry. How can I help you? How can I restore you?’ Because when your livestock is going toward the river you know they’re thirsty and they’re desperate."
Laurel Morales
The San Juan River is closed since the EPA accidentally released mine waste into the southwest waterway.
And it’s not just their livelihood. Many farmers spoke of the Navajo’s spiritual connection to the land.
The EPA failed to notify the tribe right away, but has since apologized and has spent $500,000 to haul water to the communities.
