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OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Director Meets with Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribal Officials
OSM Director Joe Pizarchik spent January 8-11 in northern Arizona, touring both active mines and reclaimed mine lands on the Navajo and Hopi reservations, and holding meetings with tribal leaders and citizens. The director also spoke about OSM’s recent announcement of $6.5 million in Abandoned Mine Land Grant funding eligibility to the Navajo and an additional $1.1 million in potential AML grants to the Hopi.
Here are some of the highlights of his visit. Select the image to enlarge.
Meeting with the Navajo Nation Tribal Officials
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(Left to right) Melvin Yazzie, Senior Reclamation Specialist, Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Land Program, and Bob Postle, Manager, Field Operations Branch, OSM Western Region, discussing reclaimed abandoned mine land sites throughout the Navajo Reservation at an abandoned uranium mine in the Cameron, Arizona area with OSM Director Joe Pizarchik. |
(Far right) Carl Holiday, Health Physicist, Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Land Program, demonstrates radiation monitoring equipment used to ensure health and human safety during and following reclamation of abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Reservation. |
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Director Joe Pizarchik (left) with Buck Woodward, Engineering Manager, Peabody Black Mesa Complex, discussing current mining operations. |
Ernest Greyeyes, Civil Engineer, Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Land Program, (left) discussing reclamation of abandoned uranium mines in the Cameron, Arizona area with OSM Director Joe Pizarchik. |
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Meeting with the Hopi Tribal Officials
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Director Pizarchik spent Monday afternoon with members of the Hopi tribe at a local wellness center, taking comments and questions from an audience of about 75 people. In this photo: left to right, Clayton Honyumptewa, Acting Director Hopi Department of Natural Resources, Hopi Chairman Leroy Shingoitewa, Hopi Vice Chairman Herman Honanie, Director Joe Pizarchik, OSM’s Bob Postle, and Ben Nuvamsa (standing). |
Director Pizarchik listens to Hopi citizen Verna Masayesva. Ms. Masayesva spoke about the cultural impacts to the Hopi as a result of mining activities. |
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Director Pizarchik explaining OSM’s position and how it operates in the regulatory environment. |
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