Participation in development of policy in regards to uranium contamination on the

Navajo Nation

By Tommy Rock

University of New MexicoCollege of Pharmacy

Community Environmental Health Program

Funding/Mentor

• National Institute of Environmental Health 5R01 ES014565

• Johnnye Lewis PhD, D.A.B.T.

Why this proposed research

• Northern Arizona University research with Native American Cancer Research Partnership under Dr. Jani Ingram

• Community outreach and education with DiNEH Project in the summer of 2008

• Over time have heard community members suggestions and concerns regarding uranium contamination

• Personal experience- Oljeto community member• Research as a foundation to pursue a PhD at UNM in

Health Policy

Over view of the proposed research

• Stakeholders in this research• Community awareness pertaining to uranium

contamination• Health implications

The Chapters• Cameron Chapter

• Churchrock Chapter

• Cove Chapter

• Blue Gap/Tachee Chapter

• Oljeto Chapter

Each participating Chapter officials, staff, and community members.

The Navajo Agencies• Navajo Nation EPA• Navajo Department of Water Resource• Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands• Navajo Tribal Utility Authority

The Purpose

• Getting the community involved in policy development.

• Seeing the differences in the stakeholders response to the questions.

• Getting the policy to reflect Navajo needs and that respects Navajo culture.

• Recognizing health implications concerning uranium contamination.

Assumption

• If all contaminated sites cannot be remediated, or remediated immediately, what can be done to protect community members or reduce the health risks associated with the uranium contamination?

• How can the US Federal Agencies contribure to the policy development and respect the needs of the Navajo People?(e.g US EPA, DOE, BIA, IHS)– Different stakeholders would probably view these

question differently, in their current role.

Outcome

• How can each stakeholder come together to effectively produce a policy that will benefit the Navajo tribe.

• Informing the Federal Agencies that are involved in reclaiming abandoned uranium mines.

• Chapters that are affected by uranium contaminations voices be heard and incorporating their voices in policy development.

Acknowledgement• National Institutes of Environmental Health• DiNEH Project staffs

– Johnnye Lewis PhD, D.A.B.T– Mallery Downs– Miranda Cajero– Bernadette Pacheco– Sarah Henio-Adeky– Jeremy DeGroat– Sandy Ramone– Chris Shuey– Glenn Stark

• Lorraine Begay Manavi- UNM Lecturer Navajo Language• Participating Navajo Nation Chapters for their support and the Chapter

staffs.