89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Navajo Council Tables Proposal Related To Mine

Members of the Navajo Nation Council tabled a proposal that would let disputes over a northwestern New Mexico coal mine that's being bought on behalf of the nation be settled in state courts rather than tribal courts.

The Farmington Daily Times reports that the decision to table the proposal on Monday stemmed from discussion over whether it required a super majority for passage.

Delegates will revisit the Navajo Mine proposal Friday.

Zurich American Insurance Company is asking the tribe to waive its sovereign immunity and settle any arbitration in New Mexico and Arizona courts before it and another company issue $500 million in bonds and insurances to a tribal company set up to purchase the mine.

Earlier on Monday, two tribal committees endorsed the legislation.