Demonstrators condemn transport of uranium ore through Navajo Nation

By Paul Garcia
Special to the Times

FLAGSTAFF

People gathered in Cameron on Friday morning to protest the shipments of uranium ore through the Navajo Nation.

About 100 people gathered to protest the shipments on U.S. Route 89 and Route 160. The shipments began on Tuesday with trucks carrying ore from the Pinyon Plain Mine to the White Mesa Mill in Blanding, Utah.

Transportation of uranium has been illegal in the Navajo Nation since 2012, when the late Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signed into law the Radioactive and Related Substances, Equipment, Vehicles, Persons, and Materials Transportation Act. The law prohibits the transportation of radioactive materials through the Navajo Nation with exceptions for the cleanup and removal of left-over uranium ore from the numerous abandoned mines that litter the Nation.

Efforts to permanently ban new uranium mine development and transportation on or across the Navajo Nation have been an ongoing battle for years. In 2005, the Diné Natural Resources Protection Act banned uranium mining in the Navajo Nation. Earlier this year President Buu Nygren wrote a letter to President Joe Biden to address the growing concerns of uranium transportation across Navajo lands when Energy Fuels Resources Inc. began its mining operations at the Pinyon Plain Mine near the Grand Canyon.

“The transportation of uranium across Navajo lands, which not only endangers our communities but also contradicts our sovereign rights to enforce our laws and protect our territory,” Nygren said in his letter to Biden on March 14, 2024. “Uranium transport continues, posing an unacceptable risk to the well-being of our people and the sanctity of our land. Alternative routes exist that can and should be used to avoid crossing Navajo lands. The use of these alternative paths would demonstrate respect for our sovereignty and a commitment to our collective health and safety.”

Police stop trucks

Despite these efforts, Energy Fuels began the transportation of uranium ore from its Pinyon Plain Mine site to the White Mesa Mill in southeastern Utah on July 30.

Hours after the departure of the trucks from the Pinyon Plain Mine, Navajo Nation leadership was informed of the activities through the U.S. Forest Service and social media. In response, Nygren deployed the Navajo Nation Police to intercept and escort the convoy off the Navajo Nation. By the time the Navajo Nation Police were able to contact the vehicles, it was already too late as they were able to reach the White Mesa Mill site and unload their cargo.

It was on their return trip to the Pinyon Plain Mine that they were finally stopped in Tuba City. The trucks were issued a citation and directed not to return through the Navajo Nation.

“They snuck through the Navajo Nation and they made it onto the Utah side, outside of the reservation,” Nygren said. “To me, they operated covertly to travel the Navajo Nation illegally. It’s very disappointing that they did that, that they smuggled uranium across our Nation which is very inappropriate.”

The lack of communication from Energy Fuels before the departure of the transportation convoy further cements the sentiment. In a statement released by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, Energy Fuel had entered an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service and other tribal governments and state departments for a two-week notice before any transportation began. It wasn’t until the trucks had already departed the Pinyon Plain Mine that Energy Fuel notified the U.S. Forest Service that trucks carrying uranium ore were en route to the White Mesa Mill. No notification was given to anyone in the Navajo Nation leadership from Energy Fuels. Additionally, Mayes said that her office had yet to receive an emergency plan from Energy Fuels if there was a uranium spill en route.

“My office is currently researching our options, but I remain deeply committed to doing everything in my power to protect the health and safety of all Arizonans,” Mayes said in a statement. “Hauling radioactive materials through rural Arizona, including across the Navajo Nation, without providing notice or transparency and without providing an emergency plan is unacceptable.

“And it is also important to remember that the Navajo, Hopi, and Havasupai nations are sovereign nations and have the right to protect the health and safety of their people,” she added.

In a late Friday statement released by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Energy Fuels has agreed to temporarily halt the transport of uranium ore. According to the statement, Hobbs entered discussions to pause hauling uranium on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, President Nygren issued a six-month executive order requiring Energy Fuels to sign an agreement with the tribe before hauling radioactive material through the Navajo Nation.

Protest march along transport planned

As of Friday evening, more protests are being planned. Many Cameron locals who were at the march on Friday plan to return on Saturday for further demonstrations against Energy Fuels. Several organizations and neighboring tribes are planning demonstrations and protests along the transport route later in the month. Navajo Nation Police presence along Highway 89 and Highway 160 is expected as they continue to monitor the roads for any transport vehicles transporting uranium.

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