Activists and Tribal leaders united this past Saturday in a protest against the continued operation of the Pinyon Plain uranium mine located near the Grand Canyon, with around 250 participants including members of the Havasupai and Lakota tribes. According to a report by ABC15, the protest was to send a clear message requesting the shutdown of the mine, as stated by Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter Director.
The Havasupai tribe, whose sacred lands and water sources are to potentially be affected, together with conservationists, have long voiced their concerns. Recently, transportation of the uranium across Navajo Nation lands has also been called into question. Following the protest, Energy Fuels – the company behind the mine – reportedly paused shipments as talks with the Navajo Nation continued. Curtis Moore, a spokesman for Energy Fuels, said, "We have had productive discussions with the Navajo Nation, and we believe the parties will be able to come to a reasonable agreement that ensures coordinated emergency management and the protection of public health and safety at all times," in a statement obtained by ABC15.
On top of the eco-political tensions, Arizona Attorney General has called for a fresh look into the environmental impact of the mine, citing the age and outdatedness of the current study. Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity underscored the urgency, telling ABC15, "The old [study] is obviously old and didn't consider a lot of the new science, which is very clear, saying that there is a very real threat to Grand Canyon's groundwater and its springs and its creeks from this uranium mine."
The protests have seen increasing support, with several environmental organizations calling on federal and state officials to act. The site of the mine lies at the foot of Red Butte, sacred to the Havasupai, and within the bounds of the newly designated Grand Canyon National Monument. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, a petition with over 17,000 signatures was delivered to Gov. Hobbs urging to use her authority to close the mine, joining the voices of 80 groups and scientists who earlier sought the same. "New research indicates that the best way to protect the waters of the region is to shut down the mine," they reported, signaling a consensus among the opposition that the mine's presence is an unacceptable risk.
