MORE DEVELOPMENTS: Navajo Times (January 04, 2006)

By Marley Shebala

Navajo Times

WINDOW ROCK, Jan 04, 2006

Vice President Frank Dayish Jr. is disregarding an order from President Joe Shirley Jr. to stay out of standoff between Dooda ("no") Desert Rock and the backers of the power plant project.

Since Dec. 12, the Dooda Desert Rock group and supporters have been camped out near the site where the $3 billion generating station will be built by Sithe Global Power of Houston and Diné Power Authority.

The group, primarily local Navajo elders, are opposed to the project, which would generate 1,500 megawatts of electricity and would burn coal from the neighboring Navajo Mine.

They have challenged contractors who perform test drilling and other preliminary work at the site, asking to see confirmation that the tests conform to all applicable laws and regulations.