A uranium producer has agreed to temporarily halt the transport of the mineral through the Navajo Nation following concerns raised by the tribe. Energy Fuels, the company in question, had begun hauling ore from its mine south of Grand Canyon National Park to a processing site in Utah. This move prompted Navajo President Buu Nygren to take action, ordering tribal police to intercept the trucks. However, the trucks had already left the reservation by the time police arrived.
Energy Fuels, in response to President Nygren's concerns, agreed to a temporary pause to address any reasonable worries. The company recently resumed mining at the Pinyon Plain Mine in northern Arizona, driven by increased uranium prices and global instability. While the company can legally resume transport at any time, it acknowledges and respects President Nygren's apprehensions and emphasizes compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
The Navajo Nation, along with other stakeholders, expected Energy Fuels to provide advance notice before hauling commenced. The tribe wanted time to coordinate emergency preparedness plans and notifications. Energy Fuels claims it informed federal, state, county, and tribal officials about the imminent hauling two weeks prior and outlined legal requirements, safety measures, and emergency response protocols.
The pause on transporting the ore will facilitate constructive negotiations between the company and the tribe. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has also expressed intent to explore legal options to safeguard public health and safety. The Navajo Nation enacted a law in 2012 prohibiting uranium transportation on the reservation, with exceptions for designated state and federal highways used by Energy Fuels for hauling.
Mining activities during historical periods like World War II and the Cold War have left a legacy of death, disease, and contamination in various communities, including the Navajo Nation. Concerns about potential water contamination have been raised by tribes like the Havasupai and environmentalists. The temporary pause in uranium transport aims to address these concerns and foster dialogue between the involved parties.
