| According to the U.S. Energy Information | | | | casinos across a New Mexico landscape, already |
| Administration, about 80 percent of the electricity | | | | replete with "truck stop casinos." One can soon |
| in New Mexico is generated each year by burning | | | | get bored guessing when the next casino will |
| coal. The irony is that the dominant anti-nuclear | | | | surface while driving across either Interstate 40 |
| group in New Mexico, Southwest Research and | | | | or I-25, the state's main arteries. First you see a |
| Information Center (SRIC), has shown no | | | | sign announcing which tribal land you are entering, |
| evidence of denouncing coal consumption. | | | | then the ubiquitous billboard describing which |
| According to Don Hancock, an SRIC Administrator | | | | has-been musical act is "now appearing," and then |
| who directs the non-profit organization's Nuclear | | | | finally the combination truck stop, casino, |
| Waste Safety Program, the group's "spiritual | | | | restaurant(s) and discount smoke shop whizzes |
| mentor" is John W. Gofman. The former nuclear | | | | by. One aging Navajo told us, "It's bad for the |
| physicist is an aging, eccentric author who was | | | | families, and it sets a bad example for the |
| discredited by the Atomic Energy Commission and | | | | younger ones." |
| was branded by the nuclear power industry as | | | | On Navajo reservation land and just in New |
| "beyond the pale of reasonable communication." | | | | Mexico alone, Joe Shirley Jr may control more |
| As a kind gesture, Hancock gave us a copy of a | | | | than 75 million pounds of uranium, with a gross |
| Gofman "cartoon book," whose theme revolves | | | | value presently exceeding $2.7 billion. Some say |
| around Thoreau's essay, "Civil Disobedience." | | | | the number could run much higher, into the |
| Another cosmic ally is Amory B. Lovins of the | | | | hundreds of millions of pounds. Don't expect Mr. |
| Rocky Mountain Institute, a favorite Don Hancock | | | | Shirley to over turn his ban on uranium any time |
| icon. | | | | soon. Dr. Fred Begay, a Navajo and nuclear |
| While Gofman championed solar energy in his hey | | | | physicist at Los Alamos, whose career has been |
| day, Lovins presently espouses hydrogen as a | | | | featured on BBC Television and in the pages of |
| primary solution for transportation, wind, and | | | | National Geographic and celebrated by the New |
| increasing efficiency through natural gas. However, | | | | York Academy of Science, explained the problem, |
| neither wind power nor solar energy is a relevant | | | | "The Navajo don't get it. They think that they'll |
| energy source in New Mexico. Hydroelectricity | | | | have miners. They have illiteracy on mining and |
| supplies about 0.7 percent of New Mexico's | | | | uranium." Dr. Begay clarified that the Navajo have |
| electricity generation. Despite the hoopla and | | | | failed to differentiate between conventional |
| hyperbole, all of other renewable energy sources | | | | uranium mining and ISL operations, which he |
| combined supply New Mexico with a mere 0.6 | | | | considers safe, "They think that miners are going |
| percent of its electricity. Coal is, in a very big | | | | in there and digging it out." |
| way, the overwhelming reason why New | | | | Perhaps the illiteracy about mining extends to |
| Mexicans are not living in darkness and without | | | | geochemistry. Coal is big money in New Mexico, |
| heat or air conditioning. | | | | and a little-known fact about the composition of |
| According to the Harvard School of Public Health, | | | | coal may enlighten more than just |
| about 2400 people die every year from the air | | | | environmentalists. Former Oak Ridge National |
| pollution caused from each million tons of sulfur | | | | Laboratory researchers J. P. McBride, R. E. Moore, |
| dioxide emitted. In 1999, it is estimated that over | | | | J. P. Witherspoon, and R. E. Blanco reported in |
| 1.05 billion tons were produced, releasing 11.856 | | | | Science magazine (Dec 8, 1978: "Radiological |
| million tons of sulfur oxides and more than 5 | | | | Impact of Airborne Effluents of Coal and Nuclear |
| million tons of nitrous oxides. Having personally | | | | Plants") the shocking conclusion that "Americans |
| inspected the first floor library of SRIC | | | | living near coal-fired power plants are exposed to |
| headquarters, no anti-coal mining literature was | | | | higher radiation doses than those living near |
| discovered. There appears to be scant | | | | nuclear power plants that meet government |
| fund-raising interest from these environmental | | | | regulations." |
| activists to close down New Mexico's large coal | | | | In an article entitled "Coal Combusion: Nuclear |
| mines. In fact, more U.S. coal mining deaths were | | | | Resource or Danger," researcher Alex Gabbard, |
| reported in 2005 than deaths from uranium mining | | | | explained, "Coal is one of the most impure of |
| (zero). heard no worries at SRIC over the | | | | fuels. Its impurities range from trace quantities of |
| blackening of coal miner's lungs, but the staff | | | | many metals, including uranium and thorium, to |
| appeared very concerned over the radon gas | | | | much larger quantities of aluminum and iron to still |
| emitted from uranium mining. Uranium mining in | | | | larger quantities of impurities such as sulfur. |
| New Mexico came to a standstill about twenty | | | | Products of coal combustion include the oxides of |
| years ago. Coal mining continues as it has for | | | | carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur; carcinogenic and |
| seven decades. | | | | mutagenic substances; and recoverable minerals |
| Don't expect the coal mines of New Mexico to be | | | | of commercial value, including nuclear fuels |
| closed any time soon, though. No matter how | | | | naturally occurring in coal." |
| deadly coal mines are, coal production is | | | | Did you know that the amount of radioactive |
| irreplaceable at this time. According to the New | | | | thorium contained in coal is about 2.5 times |
| Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, | | | | greater than the amount of uranium? For a large |
| tax revenues from coal in 2001 exceeded $30 | | | | number of coal samples, according to |
| million. Nearly one-half of the state's energy needs | | | | Environmental Protection Agency figures released |
| are met through coal-generated power. The coal | | | | in 1984, average values of uranium and thorium |
| industry employed 1,800 people in 2001. New | | | | content have been determined to be 1.3 ppm and |
| Mexico is the country's leader for methane gas | | | | 3.2 ppm, respectively. Uranium and thorium are IN |
| production from coal beds. Coal is the state's third | | | | coal. |
| largest source of revenues. | | | | For the year 1982, assuming coal contains those |
| An EPA Toxic Release Inventory report published | | | | same uranium and thorium concentrations, each |
| in 2000 reported that two power plants and their | | | | typical plant released 5.2 tons of uranium |
| coal mines in New Mexico's San Juan County | | | | (containing 74 pounds of uranium-235) and 12.8 |
| released 13 million pounds of chemical toxins into | | | | tons of thorium that year. Total U.S. releases in |
| the Four Corner's area (New Mexico, Arizona, | | | | 1982 (from 154 typical plants) amounted to 801 |
| Utah and Colorado). It was also reported that 6.5 | | | | tons of uranium (containing 11,371 pounds of |
| million tons of solid waste was buried by the two | | | | uranium-235) and 1971 tons of thorium. These |
| San Juan County power plants on their sites or at | | | | figures account for only 74% of releases from |
| nearby coal mines. Those airborne toxins were | | | | combustion of coal from all sources. Releases in |
| miniscule compared to over 300 million pounds of | | | | 1982 from worldwide combustion of 2800 million |
| other emissions, such as particulates and nitrogen | | | | tons of coal totaled 3640 tons of uranium |
| dioxide released into the air, and which can travel | | | | (containing 51,700 pounds of uranium-235) and |
| for hundreds of miles. Reports confirm those | | | | 8960 tons of thorium. Coal consumption has |
| power plants were among the worst polluters in | | | | jumped dramatically since 1982 - by more than |
| the United States. The eighth worst emitter was | | | | double! |
| Giant Refining, about 17 miles from Gallup, New | | | | Gabbard calculated the net impact of the release |
| Mexico, which emitted 608,000 pounds according | | | | of uranium and thorium from coal burning by the |
| to the EPA report. Any visitor to the Gallup area | | | | year 2040: |
| can readily smell the stench circulating in the air. | | | | Based on the predicted combustion of 2516 million |
| Does Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr Have | | | | tons of coal in the United States and 12,580 million |
| Double Standards? | | | | tons worldwide during the year 2040, cumulative |
| Why haven't the Navajo banned coal mining on | | | | releases for the 100 years of coal combustion |
| the reservation as they have uranium mining? | | | | following 1937 are predicted to be: |
| According to Anna Frazier, a Navajo affiliated with | | | | U.S. release (from combustion of 111,716 million |
| a local environmental group, "Our Navajo Nation is | | | | tons): |
| certainly not going to do that. They would rather | | | | Uranium: 145,230 tons (containing 1031 tons of |
| have the revenues coming in from the coal | | | | uranium-235) |
| companies and the power plants." According to a | | | | Thorium: 357,491 tons |
| news report published in Indian Country | | | | Worldwide release (from combustion of 637,409 |
| newspaper, "The Navajo Nation receives the bulk | | | | million tons): |
| of its annual $100 million operating expenses from | | | | Uranium: 828,632 tons (containing 5883 tons of |
| royalties, leases and taxes from its coal, oil and | | | | uranium-235) |
| gas. These revenues provide operational | | | | Thorium: 2,039,709 tons |
| expenses for the tribal government, including the | | | | The population effective dose equivalent from |
| salaries of the 88-member Navajo Nation Council, | | | | coal plants is 100 times that from nuclear plants. |
| the tribe's annual budgets show." | | | | According to the National Council on Radiation |
| For more than 35 years, Peabody Energy has | | | | Protection and Measurements (NCRP), the |
| operated massive mines on Navajo territory. The | | | | average radioactivity per short ton of coal is |
| closure of one such coal mine, the Black Mesa, | | | | 17,100 millicuries/4,000,000 tons, or 0.00427 |
| sent the Navajos rushing for their Maalox. | | | | millicuries/ton. This figure can be used to calculate |
| Ironically, it was environmental activists that | | | | the average expected radioactivity release from |
| forced Southern California Edison to close their | | | | coal combustion. For 1982 the total release of |
| Mojave Generating Station nearly 300 miles away | | | | radioactivity from 154 typical coal plants in the |
| in Laughlin, Nevada. The utility was given a choice: | | | | United States was, therefore, 2,630,230 millicuries. |
| cough up $1 billion to stop polluting the Grand | | | | Gabbard explained further: "Thus, by combining |
| Canyon or shut it down. It had been called "one of | | | | U.S. coal combustion from 1937 (440 million tons) |
| the dirtiest coal plants in the West," and air | | | | through 1987 (661 million tons) with an estimated |
| emissions from that plant reportedly polluted half | | | | total in the year 2040 (2516 million tons), the total |
| a dozen other national parks in the Southwest. | | | | expected U.S. radioactivity release to the |
| But, that coal mine provided about 15 percent of | | | | environment by 2040 can be determined. That |
| the Navajo's annual budget. George Hardeen, the | | | | total comes from the expected combustion of |
| Navajo president's media voice, complained about | | | | 111,716 million tons of coal with the release of |
| the mine closing last October, "This is going to | | | | 477,027,320 millicuries in the United States. Global |
| have a terrible effect on this entire region | | | | releases of radioactivity from the predicted |
| because the Navajo economy is so fragile." | | | | combustion of 637,409 million tons of coal would |
| John Dougherty complained about the Navajo | | | | be 2,721,736,430 millicuries." |
| Nation's tactics in the Phoenix New Times | | | | Uranium and the entire nuclear fuel cycle are |
| newspaper in March 2005, observing, | | | | blamed for a host of ills by the anti-nuclear crowd, |
| "Environmental groups have long exploited the | | | | but little is reported on the subject of radioactivity |
| Native American tradition of sacred places to fight | | | | released from burning coal. Gabbard writes, "Large |
| their battles to preserve wilderness areas...It's | | | | quantities of uranium and thorium and other |
| always the soulful Native American who steps | | | | radioactive species in coal ash are not being |
| forward as the high priest of sacred geography. | | | | treated as radioactive waste. These products |
| In the background lurks the environmentalist | | | | emit low-level radiation, but because of regulatory |
| equipped with charts and data on tree-trunk | | | | differences, coal-fired power plants are allowed to |
| diameters and spotted-owl nesting sites." | | | | release quantities of radioactive material that |
| Dougherty concluded, "The cries of environmental | | | | would provoke enormous public outcry if such |
| destruction and cultural murder from Navajo and | | | | amounts were released from nuclear facilities. |
| Hopi leaders ring hollow." | | | | Nuclear waste products from coal combustion are |
| What are not going to be ringing at all will be the | | | | allowed to be dispersed throughout the biosphere |
| cash registers at Albertsons supermarket in | | | | in an unregulated manner. Collected nuclear |
| Bullhead City, near Laughlin (Nevada), which closed | | | | wastes that accumulate on electric utility sites are |
| down this week. That's because the Mojave | | | | not protected from weathering, thus exposing |
| power station closed as advertised because of | | | | people to increasing quantities of radioactive |
| the dirty Black Mesa coal. Mike Conner, president | | | | isotopes through air and water movement and |
| of the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce, | | | | the food chain." |
| said, "The community will be devastated." Across | | | | While environmental groups hold fund raisers to |
| the river in Laughlin, Buddy Borden of the | | | | stop uranium mining, protest the nuclear fuel |
| University of Nevada at Reno told a group of | | | | cycle, and lobby to have vested interest groups, |
| community leaders the area "will take an almost | | | | such as the Navajo Nation, ban uranium mining on |
| $21 million hit" in lost power plant payrolls. The | | | | the reservation, little data or statistics can be |
| facility will lay off 375 employees, who had an | | | | found about the daily tragedies found through coal |
| average annual wage of $87,000. Like dominoes | | | | production. There is no vocal outcry from |
| falling, jobs in Nevada, Arizona and in the Navajo | | | | Southwest Research and Information Center |
| Nation were lost. | | | | about coal mining, let alone the radioactive |
| Recently, Navajo president Joe Shirley Jr. | | | | dangers found in releasing toxic coal fumes into |
| considered replacing budget shortfalls with casinos, | | | | the atmosphere. |
| four in Nevada and two in New Mexico. Last | | | | It was a difficult task to locate the data |
| March, Senator John McCain forecast the Navajo | | | | illustrating, as Mr. Gabbard has done, that the |
| casinos would fail because of their remote | | | | radioactivity IN coal, from thorium and uranium, is |
| locations. Shirley quipped back in the Arizona | | | | far more deadly than the world's fleet of nuclear |
| Republic newspaper, "I beg to differ with him." | | | | reactors. Will Joe Shirley, Jr. now ban coal mining |
| One coal mine that won't be on the Navajo | | | | on the Navajo reservation lands? After all, a |
| reservation is the first to receive an operating | | | | greater amount of radioactivity is released among |
| permit in six years. Peabody Energy announced a | | | | the Navajo from coal consumption than uranium |
| coal mine on Lee Ranch, one of New Mexico's | | | | mining ever would have achieved. Or will Mr. |
| largest landowners. It is projected to produce 102 | | | | Shirley let that slide because his budget |
| million tons of coal over the next thirty years. | | | | committee wouldn't stand for it? |
| For the time being, the Navajos hope to solve | | | | COPYRIGHT © 2007 by StockInterview, Inc. |
| their economic quagmire by just putting up more | | | | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |