Rep. Salazar Calls for Public Hearings On Desert Rock Power Plant Proposal

Serious concerns over dirty air and polluted water if energy plant is built

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3) this week asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to hold public hearings in Montezuma and La Plata Counties when the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is released on the proposed Desert Rock Energy Project, a 1,500-megawatt coal-fired power plant to be constructed 30 miles southwest of Farmington.

For several months, local county commissioners and citizens have expressed serious concerns regarding the health impacts from possible polluted water and air from the power plant.  Now that the EIS is scheduled to be released by June, Rep. Salazar has requested public hearings with a full 90 days for the public to respond to the report.

The full text of Salazar’s letter to the BIA follows:

_______________________

April 24, 2007

Omar C. Bradley

Regional Director

Bureau of Indian Affairs Navajo Region

PO Box 1060

Gallup, NM 87305

Dear Mr. Bradley:

I am writing to request that formal public hearings be held in both Montezuma and La Plata Counties in Southwest Colorado on the Desert Rock Energy Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Any new major source of air and water pollution located in Northern New Mexico, including the proposed Desert Rock Energy Project, could have a significant impact on air and water quality and the environment of Southwest Colorado. Many of my constituents from these counties and local elected officials have expressed considerable concern about the potential impacts of this project and I believe that my constituents should have ample opportunity to participate in public hearings.

Air quality and environmental concerns are of great importance in Southwest Colorado as the region already faces significant problems with existing pollution sources. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has issued a Fish Consumption Advisory for Vallecito, McPhee, Totten, and Narraguinnep reservoirs in Southwest Colorado due to mercury contamination. The likely culprit in these cases is the upwind coal-fired power plants, including the two existing plants near Shiprock. The construction of a new similar power plant at Desert Rock will potentially exacerbate these problems and will likely negatively impact residents’ health as well as the tourist driven economy of Southwest Colorado.

My constituents have also been expressing growing concern over the consequences of global warming to our region, including increased drought, lower snowfall, earlier spring runoff and other direct impacts to their economic well-being. With the Supreme Court’s recent ruling about carbon dioxide’s connection to global warming, I expect that the DEIS will thoroughly evaluate the global warming impacts from Desert Rock Energy Project since the EPA declined to analyze this impact in its draft air quality permit.

The residents of Southwest Colorado deserve formal, local public hearings on how their water and air quality, their economy, and climate will be impacted by Desert Rock. I hope that you will help me in providing my constituents a chance to speak, listen, and become involved with these decisions that will affect their communities and families for generations to come. I appreciate your consideration of this request on behalf of my constituents and I look forward to scheduling hearing dates with you soon. I also hope that BIA will provide ample time for my constituents to review this complex document by providing a full 90-day public comment period at a minimum.  Please feel free to contact my Durango office with any questions that you may have.

                                                Sincerely,

                                                John T Salazar

                                                Member, United States Congress