Arcadian Infracom proposes to construct, maintain, and operate a subsurface long haul fiber optic cable, conduit, and associated access and operation facilities across the Navajo Nation along U.S. Highway 89 and Navajo Route 20 from points north of Gray Mountain, Arizona to points south of Page, Arizona (“Proposed Project”). This Proposed Project through Navajo Nation is part of a larger fiber construction project that will stretch the global internet backbone through the Navajo Nation as Arcadian creates a new, more direct fiber connection between Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Enabled by 2020 Navajo Nation legislation, this project is intended to 1) create new jobs and job skills for Navajo members, 2) provide cash and services to the Navajo Nation as compensation for use of Navajo Nation Rights-of-Way, 3) generate new tax revenues through the construction and operation of fiber infrastructure built within the Navajo Nation, and 4) assist the Navajo Nation and other service providers to deliver high speed broadband services within Navajo communities. This fiber project will provide highly scaled bandwidth onto the Navajo Nation to support distance learning for K-12 and higher education, telemedicine and remote working arrangements, which can help mitigate the health, safety and ongoing economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There has been extensive opportunity for public engagement in relation to the Proposed Project. Since 2018, Arcadian has actively and frequently participated in, provided explanatory materials to, and/or presented at more than 20 meetings with Navajo Nation officials and stakeholders that were open to the public and advertised in advance as such, including meetings with the standing Resources and Development Committee (“RDC”) of the Navajo Nation Council, the ad hoc State Task Force convened under the auspices of the Council, the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Chapter leaders, and the standing Naabik’iyati’ Committee of the Whole of the Council. Arcadian has also met and maintains regular contact with the Office of the President and Vice President, various Council Delegates, the General Land Development Department, and the RDC to address questions as they arise and help ensure all voices have an opportunity to be heard.
Chapter Notices have been sent to the Bodaway-Gap, Cameron, Coppermine, and LeChee Chapters.
Click HERE for the current Navajo Nation ROW Legislation related to the Proposed Project.
The Notice of Availability (“NOA”), Finding of No Significant Impact (“FONSI”), and Environmental Assessment (“EA”) provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (“BIA”) are below. Project maps and descriptions are contained in the EA. The NOA provides information on how to submit comments to the BIA on the EA and FONSI, including a specified email address.
