Navajo turns down Peabody cash payoff
Would have funded 18 Manuelito Scholarships

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation may be having its share of economic woes, but that fact was not enough to entice the Navajo Nation Council to jump at a one-time $1.5 million bonus payment and a total of $250,000 in annual scholarship money as incentive for approving a new Peabody Western Coal Co. royalty agreement.

The council tabled the resolution last week and directed that a work session be held within 30 days on the proposed “reopener” amendment, which is negotiated between Peabody and Navajo attorneys and calls on Peabody to pay the Nation $3.5 million for each calendar year through 2017.

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