Environmental groups Friday criticized as inadequate a draft federal study of coal operations at Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine near Farmington.
The comment period ended Friday for the draft environmental impact statement conducted by the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement. The study examines the combined environmental impacts of the coal-fired power plant and adjacent mine.
“OSM’s failure to adequately assess the health and water impacts from the continued burning of coal at Four Corners Power Plant is unacceptable,” said Nellis Kennedy-Howard, a Sierra Club representative, in a news release Friday afternoon. “Four Corners Power Plant is over 50 years old – it’s time to begin thinking about clean and safe alternatives in renewable energy.”
The Western Environmental Law Center submitted comments on behalf of Sierra Club, Diné Citizens Against Ruining the Environment, the Center for Biological Diversity and San Juan Citizens Alliance.
The federal study examines the planned life of the power plant and mine, which is envisioned to stretch to 2041.
The Navajo Nation last year agreed to take ownership of the coal mine from mining giant BHP Billiton, although BHP will continue to operate the mine until 2016. The power plant is primarily owned and operated by Arizona Public Service Co., a Phoenix-based utility company.
APS has pointed to reductions in nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and other pollutants from shutting down three of five units at Four Corners and placing advanced pollution controls on the remaining two.
cslothower@durangoherald.com
