As uranium prices soar due to increased demand and global instability, the largest U.S. uranium producer, Energy Fuels Inc., is reigniting operations near the Grand Canyon, a move buoyed by the nation's commitment to ramp up nuclear power in the fight against climate change, reports ABC15. The Biden administration, along with several international counterparts, aims to triple the capacity of nuclear power globally, creating a push for uranium that is expected to sustain for decades.
Despite administration pledges, concerns run deep with environmentalists and Native American leaders who see the shadow of past uranium mining horrors looming over their communities. They are calling for tighter oversight, and their fears are not unfounded. Energy Fuels' Pinyon Plain Mine, situated just south of the Grand Canyon's South Rim, lies amid sacred and environmentally sensitive terrains. Curtis Moore, an Energy Fuels spokesman, insists the project is designed with "low impact with zero risk to groundwater," expected to produce sufficient uranium to power Arizona for a year with carbon-free electricity.
The controversy intensifies as the Pinyon Plain Mine finds itself within the freshly appointed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukv National Monument, designated in August by President Joe Biden, reported by KUTV. However, the operation continues under the mantle of preexisting rights that Energy Fuels possesses, which also shielded the mine from a 20-year moratorium placed on uranium mining in the region by the Obama administration.
Natives are not silent in this unfolding saga. Carletta Tilousi, previous Havasupai Tribal Council member, conveyed the dismay and resistance of indigenous communities to the continued mining activities, stating, "They hear our voices. There’s no response," as per an interview obtained by KUTV. Additionally, Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity lambasted the notion of mining near the Grand Canyon, branding it as a disfigurement to the Biden administration's environmental justice platform.
Uranium mining's dark history casts a long shadow over the region, with tribal communities such as the Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, and Oglala Lakota still grappling with the aftermath of contamination. The stark reminder of past accidents and negligence, like the spill on Navajo Nation land, regarded as the largest radioactive accident in U.S. history, exacerbates the distrust within these communities toward the federal government and the uranium mining industry.
Amid the contention, proponents of nuclear power in Congress find themselves at odds with colleagues like Congresswoman Cori Bush who, during a January congressional meeting, highlighted the urgent need to address the legacy of nuclear waste before pursuing expansion within the sector, especially in minority communities already burdened by past refinements from projects like the Manhattan Project.
