And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Hopi coal bonus to support education http://www.navajohopiobserver.com/news3.htm KYKOTSMOVI, (Ariz.)-The Hopi Tribe will use a $750,000 coal royalty bonus a seed money to create an education endowment fun, Hopi Tribe Chairman Wayne Taylor announced March 23. The funds were recently presented by Southern California Edison and Salt River Project, plant operators, on behalf of the Mohave and Navajo generating stations fueled by Peabody Southwest Operations. "This bonus provides a much-needed boost to the Tribe's efforts to secure long-term funding for Hopi educational needs," said Taylor. "In the past few years, we have witnessed a steady rise in tuition and post-high school educational costs, resulting in financial hardships for our students," he continued. "In the next month or so, we will present the Hopi Tribal Council with a plan to set aside a portion of these dollars for the endowment." Once established, the endowment, through the income it generates, will provide for scholarships, internships and other educational needs, according to Taylor. The Chairman's Office, with the support of the Council, the Hopi Office of Education and others, will raise additional funds to augment the endowment fund. "Our goal is to raise $10 million that will provide sustainable funding for education," said Taylor. "As we all know, the coal will not last forever. However, establishing a fund that lasts forever provides educational security for our students far into the future." The Black Mesa and Kayenta mines have operated for nearly three decades, annually producing about 12 million tons of coal for the Mohave Station near Laughlin, Nevada and the Navajo Station near Page, Arizona. The plants produce electricity for more than 2 million Southwest homes and businesses. The bonus is part of a 1998 joint royalty agreement that increases the Hopis' annual revenue by more than $1 million as well as provides tiered bonuses when he mines reach certain production levels. Annual royalty payments are based on tribal ownership of the mineral resources and historically have provided about 80 percent of the Tribe's annual operating budget. Peabody Western Coal Company operates the Black Mesa and Kayenta coal mines through lease agreements with the Hopi Tribe and Navajo Nation. The leases were originally signed in 1966 and have provisions for negotiating royalties every ten years if any party requests a review. New Hopi royalty rates were negotiated in 1987 and again in 1998. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
