The Navajo Nation Council said it “is very disappointed” with EPA’s announcement that it has decided that the agency is not legally able to pay compensation for claims submitted by Navajo farmers, livestock owners, and many others who were impacted and devastated by the Gold King Mine spill that occurred nearly a year and half ago.
“We as leaders of the Navajo Nation call upon our Congressional leaders from the states of Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona to do what is right for our people by demanding that the U.S. EPA reconsider its decision and that the U.S. EPA provide full compensation to the many Navajo people who sustained extensive losses due to the spill that was caused by the agency,” said Navajo Nation Council Speaker Lorenzo Bates.
“Since the spill occurred in August 2015, the Navajo Nation Council and local leaders have met with officials from the U.S. EPA, Congressional members, and many others to advocate for full compensation for our people. We have provided written and oral testimony before Congress detailing the hardships and financial losses that our people have suffered due to the contamination caused by the spill, and yet we have been told that the federal government is not responsible for compensation – this is not right,” continued Bates.
Bates called upon Congressional leaders “to do what is right for the Navajo people.”