Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez have outlined five objectives for controlling uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation, developing the nation’s second five year plan.

Representatives from the EPA, Department of Energy, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and Indian Health Services met with the president and vice president to discuss controlling the contamination.

This will be the second five year plan entered into by the Navajo Nation and the EPA. President Begaye said securing funding is a main objective,

“”We want to administer and have oversight on how these funds are expended. This would ensure that our Navajo people affected by uranium contamination will receive all funding and no pass through.”

During the meeting, the EPA discussed the progress of abandoned mine cleanup on the Nation. Since 2008, nine mines have had emergency cleanup action taken for the provision of safe drinking water for over 3,000 homes.