Large uranium mine to be built south of Grand Canyon, even as Native Americans protest
The largest U.S. uranium producer is increasing mining south of Grand Canyon National Park, in a long-disputed project that comes as global instability and growing demand drive up uranium prices.
The Biden administration and dozens of other countries have pledged to triple nuclear power capacity around the world in their battle against climate change, and some are adopting policy changes to reduce Russia's influence over the supply chain.
But as the United States pursues its nuclear energy potential, environmentalists and Native American leaders continue to fear the consequences for communities near mining and milling sites in the West and call for greater regulatory oversight.
The new mining at the Pinyon Plain Mine, near the Grand Canyon, takes place within the boundaries of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukv National Monument, designated in August by President Joe Biden. The work was allowed to proceed because Energy Fuels Inc. had existing valid rights.
Location of new uranium mine
Energy Fuels spokesperson Curtis Moore describes the project as low impact and zero risk to groundwater.
The mine will cover 17 acres (6.8 hectares) and operate for a few years, producing at least about 907,000 kilograms of uranium – enough to power the state of Arizona for at least a year with carbon-free electricity, he said.
Energy Fuels, which is preparing two more mines in Colorado and Wyoming, has been awarded a contract in 2022 to sell $18.5 million in uranium concentrates to the U.S. Government to help create the nation's strategic reserve in case interruption of supplies.
The natives oppose the mine
Amid the growing appetite for uranium , a coalition of Native Americans testified before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in late February, calling on the group to pressure the U.S. Government to review outdated mining laws and prevent a further exploitation of marginalized communities.
Carletta Tilousi, who served on the Havasupai Tribal Council for years, said she and others wrote countless letters to state and federal agencies and attended hours of meetings with regulators and lawmakers. His tribe's reservation is located in a gorge near the Grand Canyon.
“We have participated diligently in the consultation processes,” he said. “They hear our voices. There is no answer."
Numerous legal challenges aimed at stopping the Pinyon Plain Mine have been repeatedly rejected by the courts, and high-level Biden administration officials are reticent to intervene, beyond speaking generally about efforts to improve consultation with Native American tribes.
However, Energy Fuel certainly has the ability to convince even the American aborigines to accept the mine as a positive element. After all, without uranium there can be no nuclear energy and therefore decarbonisation. Biden will have to decide which side to take.
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The article Large uranium mine to be built south of Grand Canyon, even as Native Americans protest comes from Economic Scenarios .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/grande-miniera-di-uranio-sara-costruita-a-sud-del-gran-canyon-anche-se-i-nativi-americani-protestano/ on Sun, 31 Mar 2024 06:00:07 +0000.