‘We were duped’: Uranium shipments begin across Navajo land

On February 12, 2024, the Navajo Nation began inspecting uranium ore trucks hauling 25 tons of material from the Pinyon Plain Mine, following an agreement signed with Energy Fuels Inc. 14 days earlier. The agreement allows for daily uranium ore transport across Navajo land, starting with two trucks a day, which will increase to four by the end of February. Safety and regulatory inspections, authorized by the agreement, are carried out in Cameron, Arizona.

Navajo Nation Executive Director Stephen Etsitty, involved in overseeing the inspections, emphasized the procedural nature of these inspections, including verifying the trucks’ compliance with federal and state regulations, ensuring safety measures, and checking radiation levels. Despite ensuring safety, Etsitty expressed understanding of the anger many Navajo people feel due to the legacy of uranium mining and transport across their lands.

The transport agreement comes after months of negotiations, as the Navajo Nation previously halted the transportation due to a lack of notice from the mining company. While the tribe has a law banning uranium transport across its lands, there are exceptions based on federal preemption and jurisdiction over state roads. As a result, the Navajo Nation chose to negotiate rather than pursue a legal battle they believed they would lose.

However, there is significant opposition from local activists and other tribes who feel the decision compromises Navajo sovereignty and health. Some argue the transport is detrimental to surrounding communities, including the Havasupai and Ute Mountain Ute tribes. Critics like Leona Morgan from HaulNo! and Treina Jones from Bidí Roots have raised concerns that the agreement puts both the Navajo and neighboring tribes at risk of further contamination and environmental harm.

Despite protests, Etsitty believes the agreement provides the tribe with oversight and monitoring capabilities, but there is growing frustration over transparency and how the agreement was negotiated without sufficient public involvement. Concerns continue within the Navajo government, with some leaders questioning the legality and terms of the agreement, pointing out a lack of consultation and information sharing with the public.

Learn more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/were-duped-uranium-shipments-begin-210658160.html