Arizona's governor says a uranium producer has agreed to temporarily pause transport of the mineral through the Navajo Nation after the tribe raised concerns related to a safety plan.

A uranium producer has agreed to temporarily pause the transport of the mineral through the Navajo Nation after the tribe raised concerns about the possible effects that it could have on the reservation.

Gov. Katie Hobbs said Friday that she intervened this week after talking with Navajo President Buu Nygren, who had come up with a plan to test a tribal law that bans uranium from being transported on its land.

Energy Fuels isn’t legally required to give advance notice. But the Navajo Nation, the U.S. Forest Service, county officials and others says the company verbally agreed to do so — and then reneged on the promise Tuesday.

Mining during World War II and the Cold War left a legacy of death, disease and contamination on the Navajo Nation and in other communities across the country. The Havasupai tribe is among the tribes and environmentalists that have raised concerns about potential water contamination.

    • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
      15·
      4 months ago

      This isn’t that kind of situation. Uranium has been mined here for decades. Even with that though, the issues the Navajo Nation has faced aren’t really radiation related, they’re mining related, as usual with nearly all types of mining since regulations to prioritize minimal negative environmental impact are basically non-existent. This mining just happens to be a radioactive element as opposed to something more benign like copper.

      From the article you clearly didn’t read:

      The Navajo Nation said it wanted to ensure it had time to coordinate emergency preparedness plans and other notifications before hauling began. Energy Fuels said it notified federal, state county and tribal officials about two weeks ago that hauling was imminent and outlined legal requirements, safety and emergency response.

      The tribe said it didn’t expect hauling to begin for at least another month, based on months of conversations with Energy Fuels.

      It seems like Energy Fuels either straight up lied about the timing for whatever reason, or they moved up their timetable without telling anyone because they aren’t strictly required to by law. Which definitely seems shady. Why wouldn’t you notify everyone involved that the timetable has been accelerated?