Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
• Involvement of community members in contamination monitoring efforts and public
release of air, land and water monitoring results;
• Initiation of a population health study following contaminant-related health impacts over
time;
• Monitoring animal exposure to contaminants throughout the life of the Project;
• Involvement of community members in monitoring remediation efforts.
Health Changes Resulting from Alterations to Land and Water
Finally, to fully appreciate the suite of health impacts that could result through changes in
environmental conditions it is important to understand how health is defined by many of the
residents in the project area. The Zuni, Acoma, Laguna, and Hopi Pueblos and Navajo all define
health or well-being broadly. This definition likely differs slightly by tribe and by each individual;
however, what is similar amongst all the tribes in the project area is that environmental integrity
is important to the health and well-being of the individuals. This viewpoint on health was
confirmed in conversation with the Zuni and Laguna Pueblos (Bonne et al., 2012; Luarkie et al.,
2012) and a report on the Navajo (Sittler, 1999) and, thus, it is important to consider when
looking at impacts to environmental exposures.
The Native concept of health does not separate environmental and human experiences; essentially
all people and all living things are connected. This means that any impact to the environment is
perceived to impact the health of the Native peoples. Water contamination was the primary
concern of all of the tribal groups when it came to health impacts (Bonne et al., 2012; Luarkie et
al., 2012; Juanico et al., 2012). Water is not only important for farming practice and daily living;
water is also a very important component of spiritual health in these communities.
This health belief likely means that any impacts to the environment resulting from the proposed
action would result in human health impacts to tribal members. These impacts would be
comprised of mainly mental and spiritual health impacts, both of which are key components of
overall well-being (WHO, 1946). Previous studies have shown an association between American
Indian culture and health (Herman-Stahl et al., 2002; Cain 1999; Dorton 2007; Garroutte et al.,
2003). It was stated in stakeholder interviews that further degradation to environmental
conditions, would be experienced as another sign of minimizing cultural beliefs (Luarkie et al.,
2012). Because Native Americans in the project area have been identified as an environmental
justice population (see “Environmental Justice” section), it is important that impacts to health are
not exacerbated in this population group. Native Americans already suffer disproportionately
from poverty, unemployment and have lower quality of health than all other racial groups in the
project area. The Laguna and Zuni Tribal Councils both stated that mitigating impacts through
this pathway would require ongoing conversation with the councils and the community members.
It is hoped that through conversation with governments and industry that there can be mutual
understanding developed of the pathways through which health can be impacted.
Impacts to health resulting from alterations to land and water could be reduced by:
• Having ongoing conversations with the tribes in the study area on project-related
development activities to ensure that a full understanding of health is incorporated into
project plans.
414 DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest