PLEA FOR SUPPORT TO PETITION EXTENTION OF COMMENT PERIOD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REGARDING COAL MINING AND GROUNDWATER PUMPING ON HOPI RESERVATION

Please take 10 minutes to write an email to support Hopi Tribal Chairman Ben Nunumsva's request to the US Office of Surface Mining for a 90 day extention for the comment period for the revised EIS. The deadline for requests for this extention is MONDAY,JULY 7th, 5pm.

On May 23rd, 2008, the United States Department of the Interior  Office of Surface Mining reopened a comment period on the EIS which has been substantially changed and will allow Peabody Western Mining Company to take the coal and pump 2 BILLION GALLONS a year from the N-Aquifer beneath the reservation to be used to SLURRY the coal 273 MILES to the  Mohave Generating Station located in Laughlin, Nevada.

The proposed groundwater withdrawals by Peabody exceed the annual rate of recharge of the N-Aquifer, thus removing vital artesian well pressure which drive the Hopi springs. Many of these springs are sacred sites and necessary for spiritual and religious purposes. When water stops moving in an artesian aquifer system the water stops moving underground and the springs will no longer provide water. Not to mention the fact that the Hopi depend on this water for survival.

'Black Mesa project is nothing more than a coal grab. Instead of calling it a revised Kayenta Mine Plan it should be called Kayenta Mine Expansion Program.' states Vernon Masayesva of the Black Mesa Trust. 'The fact that Peabody is paying OSM to rush the EIS to conclusion borders on conflict of interest. It shows Peabody and OSM's concern over mounting condemnation of their irresponsible behavior'

The public has been given 45 days, ending July 7th at 5pm to respond to the revised EIS. This time of year on the  Reservation the Hopi people are fully engaged in the religious dance ceremonies which take weeks to prepare for. Few Hopis have had the time to even read the revised EIS.

The EIS is available for review at OSM's web site at http://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/WR/BlackMesaEIS.htm.

E-mail comments should be sent to BMKEIS@osmre.gov.

Please BCC me so we can keep OSM honest

For more information contact me

Frederick Shute

Communications Liason to

Black Mesa Trust

www.blackmesatrust.org

To make it easy all you have to say is this: I support the request by Hopi Tribal chairman Ben Nunumsva for a 90 day extention of the comment period for the EIS regarding the Peabody Western Mining Company proposed project on Black Mesa, Arizona.

Thanks!