Navajo Nation President Receives $14 Million Royalty Check from Peabody Energy

Native News Network Staff in Native Currents. Discussion »

WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA - The $14 million check was a welcome payment for mined coal on the Navajo Indian Reservation.

Brad Brown, Peabody Vice President, shakes hands with Navajo President Ben Shelly after receiving $14 million check for the Navajo Nation with Walter Begay

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly met with executives from Peabody Energy and accepted the check on behalf of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation has a contract with Peabody Energy that allows for mining of coal on tribal land.

“We are always trying to make sure we use our natural resources to help the Navajo people,”

President Shelly said.

In addition, President Shelly said the money could be used to supplement potential federal funding cuts. The cuts could hinder the Navajo government's ability to deliver direct services to the Navajo people.

"We still don’t know what the federal budget is going to look like, we need to save money now and not be running around trying to look for money later," President Shelly said.

The check was a result of three years of royalty incentives from 2009 through 2012. Peabody executives said the Navajo Nation should expect about $3.5 million a year from coal revenues in the coming years.

A long court battle was settled last August.

The money is expected to be added to the Undesignated Unreserved Fund Balance and was deposited into the Navajo Nation's account shortly after the meeting.

posted January 9, 2011 6:00 am est