March 16,2010

Jared Blumenfeld

Regional Administrator

U.S. EPA Region 9

75 Hawthorne Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

Dear Mr. Blumenfeld:

RECEIVED

MAR 24 2010

PemliL:> v rrice Air-3

U.S. EPA, Region 9

Thank you for meeting with us on March 3 to discuss issues related to EPA 's Advanced

Notice of Public Rulemaking (ANPR) on the upcoming BART determinations for the

Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Generating Station. These two coal-fired power

plants are among our nation's largest sources of nitrogen oxide pollution, which harms

our health and impairs visibility within the spectacuiar national parks throughout our

region. We look forward to working with Region 9 in resolving these issues.

We are committed to achieving the strongest level of pollution control possible from

these two facilities in a timel y manner. The Clean Air Act requires that significant

emission reductions at these plants be accomplished within five years. As part of this

process, we urge you to evaluate opportunities to transition to renewable energy sources.

Despite decades of mining and burning coal in this region, many people still lack

essentials such as water and electricity and they live in a polluted environment. We

believe that there are healthier and more economically beneficial alternatives.

We appreciate your recognition that this region is one of our nation's most egregious

examples of environmental injustice. We applaud your promise to "think outside the

box" and are encouraged by your commitment to reach out to other federal agencies in

finding solutions to eliminate pollution from Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo

Generating Station. To that end, we support engaging the U.S. Department of Interior

and Department of Energy in developing clean energy alternatives, providing economic

assistance to the tribes for renewable energy development, and helping to reverse the

harm caused by these two coal-fired power plants to the region 's air, water, land, and

people.

In the coming months, we intend to supplement our previous ANPR comments by

providing you with a plan to resolve the human and environmental threats posed by Four

Corners Power Plant and Navajo Generating Station. We intend to suggest principles for

guiding the transition away from polluting energy practices, identify opportunities to

promote clean energy alternatives, and seek unifying positions with tribal governments.

Our region is rich with economically sound opportunities and creative collaborations for

transforming its energy future . For example, the Navajo Nation has recently taken

important steps toward an economy based on clean and sustainable energy through the

Nation's Renewable Energy Task Force and Green Economy Commission, and it will

soon be the majority owner ofthe tribe 's first utility-scale wind project. Grassroots
communities have initiated efforts toward renewable energy in preparing Renewable

Energy and Economic Alternativesfor the Navajo Nation. The Hopi Tribe is also

pursuing clean energy prospects and sustainable economic growth through village leaders

and its Energy Utility Office. .

We proudly stand united with you in courageously proclaiming "there are no jobs on a

dead planet." Our coalition of citizens and environmental organizations is greatly

encouraged by our meeting. We have confidence that EPA will provide the leadership

needed to ensure that pollution from these coal plants will no longer harm the people and

treasured landscapes of our region.

Please extend our sincere gratitude to Debbie Jordan and to everyone who assisted in

making possible our gathering in San Francisco. We are committed to working positively

with your agency and other key partners throughout the process and look forward to

helping pian your visit to the region, including the Navajo and Four Comers power plants

and Black Mesa.

Ahehee', askwali, kwakwha, and thank you,

Marshall Johnson

Wahleah Johns

Cy Wagoner

Herman Tso

Vernon Masayesva

Joe Browder

Garret Rosenblatt

Lori Goodman

Anna Frazier

Elouise Brown

Eldon Brown

Mike Eisenfeld

Megan Graham

Taylor McKinnon

Amy Atwood

Rob Smith

Andy Bessler

Karen Hevel-Mingo

John Barth

Roger Clark

Petrika Peters

cc.

Lisa Jackson

Steven Chu

Ken Salazar

Deborah Jordan

To' Nizhoni Ani

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Black Mesa Water Coalition

Lechee Chapter

Black Mesa Trust

Black Mesa Trust

Black Mesa Trust

Dine Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment

Dine Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment

Dooda Desert Rock

Dooda Desert Rock

San Juan Citizens Alliance

San Juan Citizens Alliance

Center for Biological Diversity

Center for Biological Diversity

Sierra Club

Sierra Club

National Parks Conservation Association

Attorney at Law

Grand Canyon Trust

Grand Canyon Trust