Despite the harmful effects of the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant on precious water resources and air quality in the Four Corners region, the lead federal agency in charge of the project, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has denied numerous requests to review even basic public records on those issues.

Citizen groups Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment (Diné CARE) and the San Juan Citizens Alliance had filed requests with the Bureau of Indian Affairs on three separate occasions for records detailing a consultant’s work on Desert Rock, particularly its water use and a related coal-mining expansion. In each case, the BIA has refused to provide the public documents requested.

As a result, on April 2nd, the Western Environmental Law Center and the Energy Minerals Law Center, filed suit on behalf of Diné CARE and the San Juan Citizens to force the BIA to abide by the law under the Freedom of Information Act.

Click here to read the full press release.
Click here to read the complaint filed in Federal Court.