Racism at Black Mesa?
Peabody discussion turns to bigotry, Navajos want to run their own mine

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Dine Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Within the next 90 days the Navajo Nation Council will have a work session to review leases since 1960 pertaining to Peabody Western Coal Co. and possibly hold public hearings before presenting oral and written reports during spring session.

Council tabled a resolution Dec. 22 calling for approval of a “reopener” amendment which would have given the tribe 12.5 percent coal royalties until 2017 — the minimum set by Congress in 1977 — a signing bonus of $1.55 million for both leases, an annual bonus of $3.5 million a year for 10 years, and a total of $250,000 in scholarship funding.

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