Navajo Nation president eyes lifting advisory on river water

Source: AP

By FELICIA FONSECA

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The quality of San Juan River water on the Navajo Nation has returned to what it was before a spill at a Colorado gold mine sent toxic sludge into the waterway, federal officials said Thursday.

The testing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency along with that of the Navajo EPA has prompted tribal President Russell Begaye to consider lifting an advisory against using the river to water crops.

Begaye has said he would not advise hundreds of farmers on the Navajo Nation to do so until the tribe's own testing declared the river safe.

Those results will be provided at a meeting later in the day with farmers in Shiprock, New Mexico, tribal spokesman Mihio Manus said.

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In this Aug. 18, 2015 photo, Joe Ben Jr., Shiprock Chapter House Farm Board representative, wipes off oil from a water tank in Shiprock, N.M. The quality of San Juan River water on the Navajo Nation has returned to what it was before a spill at a Colorado gold mine sent toxic sludge into the waterway, federal officials said Thursday. (Alexa Rogals/The Daily Times via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

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