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Published On: Wed, Apr 25th, 2012

Environmentalist group quote mining the President

Weekly Edition | April 24th | By: Seth M. NP-writer

Political Mud sling?

Window Rock, Ariz – On April 20th, Navajo President Ben Shelly and his Water Rights Commission presented the 4th in a series of public forums on Senate Bill 2109. It was reported in a Press Release by ‘Dine Hada Asidi’ claiming Mr. Shelly said “I’m going to Washington, D.C. and stop this bill.” but later, Shelly office said that is not true.

Shelly spokesman, Erny Zah said the press release issued by the  ‘Dine Hada Asidi’ is ‘erroneous and wrong, if I issued something like this I would be fired- it’s poor journalism, the President said he will continue to listen to the Navajo people and their concerns about the Little Colorado River Water Settlement.’

Indian Country Today reported, leader of the group Ed Becenti said “With our news release we are wanting to put pressure on him to … clarify his comments from Friday night, said Ed Becenti, Navajo grassroots activist. “…if he is really sincere about going to Washington, D.C. to tell Kyl and McCain that there is no deal because S.B. 2109 is creating great problems among the Navajo people, then we want him to come out in the open and state that one more time.”

During the town hall, President Shelly used the Northwestern New Mexico Water Settlement Act as a reference point. During that time, Mr. Shelly served as a Council Delegate and as a McKinley County Commissioner. Mr. Shelly also compared the dichotomy during the consideration for the New Mexico settlement, which involved local Navajo people and they were a part of the process that resulted in a successful resolution of Navajos claims on the San Juan River.

“The truth of the matter is that we are likely to get more water as part of this settlement than we would if we litigated our claims nor we would not get the funding to bring drinking water to Navajo People,” said President Shelly in earlier statements.

The Little Colorado River Water Rights Settlement or S.B. 2109 would bring more than $350 million to the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe, all of which would be used to build water infrastructure in communities that desperately need running water. The terms of the settlement would not come into effect until after the federal government has both fully funded and completed the projects, In the event funds are not provided as outlined the settlement becomes void.

The Facts of passing S.B. 2109- The proposed settlement would:

  • Provide the Navajo Nation unlimited right to N-Aquifer ground water for domestic and municipal uses (homes, hospitals, schools and others)
  • Provide the Navajo Nation with the right to pump as much groundwater as it wants from the C-Aquifer, while placing limits on the amounts that non-Navajos (including the Hopi Tribe) can pump near the Navajo Reservation
  • Protect the right to use all unappropriated surface water from the Little Colorado River
  • Prohibit the construction of new reservoirs anywhere in the LCR basin without the consent of the Navajo Nation
  • Prohibit new surface water irrigation by any party, except the Navajo Nation
  • Recognize all historic and existing irrigation on the reservation
  • Fund the critical infrastructure projects in Leupp-Dilkon and Ganado (and provide for operation and maintenance funding of these projects)

Navajo Officials said, the settlement does not include resolve or waive Navajo claims to the larger Colorado River.

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Environmentalist group quote mining the President