Navajo Nation Speaker LoRenzo Bates along with Navajo Nation Council delegates met with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey at the Arizona State Capitol this week, to advance several issues including the future of the Navajo Generating Station, ongoing negotiations with the Hopi Tribe over Little Colorado River water rights, and he Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Bates informed Ducey that he anticipates the introduction of legislation this week that will allow the Navajo Nation Council to determine whether or not to allow the Navajo Generating Station to remain in full operation until the end of 2019.
The legislation will have to be considered by several of the Council’s Standing Committees prior to final consideration by the full Council, according to the Nation’s press release.
During the meeting, Bates requested the support of Ducey’s office by considering an exemption on the state’s Transaction Privilege Taxes that are placed on coal production and sales from Kayenta Mine, which is the sole provider of coal for the Navajo Generation Station. Bates claimed that the exemption would be one component that may help coal prices compete with the current price of natural gas.
Council Delegate Dwight Witherspoon and Bates also told Ducey that the Navajo Nation would seek to secure the rights to approximately 50,000 acre-feet of water that is currently used by Navajo Generating Station for operations, if the power plant closes. Witherspoon wants to obtain the rights to the water for Navajo communities.
“If NGS closes, it will impact the state of Arizona tremendously,” stated Bates.
In regards to a potential Little Colorado River settlement Bates said the Council’s negotiation subcommittee, chaired by Council Delegate Walter Phelps, has been meeting with the Hopi Tribe to reach an agreement before a proposal is presented to non-Indian water users and the state of Arizona. Council Delegate Jonathan Hale, who serves as the chair of the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee, requested Ducey’s support to exempt all members of the Navajo Nation from S.B. 1092, which requests waiver language to require AHCCCS beneficiaries to become employed, actively seek employment, or to attend school or job training.
Ducey’s senior policy advisor said the Governor’s Office did receive the resolution passed by the Navajo Nation Council’s Naabik’íyáti’ Committee along with many public comments, which are being reviewed in order to develop fairer language.