The Grand Canyon region has been hit with a fresh wave of excavation for uranium , the heavy alloy used in the production of atomic fuel and atomic dud . reave this country for radioactive resources has proved specially controversial since some of the activity will occur within protect aboriginal American motherland – despite late reassurance it would be safeguarded from uranium minelaying .

Energy Fuels , the largest U producer in the US , announced inDecember 2023that they have “ commenced uranium yield ” in three mines , include the Pinyon Plain Mine ( aka Canyon Mine ) in Arizona near the ingress of the Grand Canyon ’s South Rim .

The mine sits within the bound of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument , a protected blank that wasdesignated in August 2023to protect the Native country of origin fromuraniummining . However , Energy Fuels was allow to move forward with their excavation plan because they had existing right .

The Havasupai Tribe , the Grand Canyon Trust , and many other radical had attempted to cease activity at Pinyon Plain Mine from moving forwardusing sound challenges , but a court ruling in February 2022upheldthe sentiment that the miners had valid exist rights .

Within the retiring few months , mining for atomic number 92 stay at the Pinyon Plain Mine , which has n’t project body process in many years .

“ It is with heavy hearts that we must acknowledge that our greatest fear has come unfeigned , ” the Havasupai Tribe said in astatementin January 2024 .

“ Our tribal community of interests ’s only source of water is fed by aquifers , which regrettably baby-sit forthwith below the Pinyon Plain Mine . The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Union EPA call there is no peril to us , that no harmful burden will come our room from this allege ‘ fair energy ’ source , ” the command continues .

“ But how can they so confidently make such a title when Energy Fuels has already contaminate one of the two aquifers while poke the mine shaft , which then led to the companionship spray toxic piss into the air , only to be spread to the precious plants and beast by the vaunt winds , ” they add up .

This opinion is backed up bypeer - critique researchon mining in the Grand Canyon , which concluded : “ contaminant , either from land - open or subsurface source , are likely to be channelize into the thick aquifer , which is the primary germ of South Rim spring and drinking water wells . ”

Around 738,901 kilograms ( 1,629,000 pounds ) of triuranium octoxide ( U3O8 ) , a compound of uranium , is found beneath thePinyon Plain Mine . Much of the renewed interest to mine here is being driven bygovernments up their nuclear mightiness productionto reach zero - carbon target , as well asrecent bans to prohibitimporting uranium from Russia .

To ensure this uranium is sourced safely and with consent , members of five Native American tribestestified beforethe Inter - American Commission on Human Rights in February 2024 , citing historical evidence that past mining activity dramatically impacted Native American communitiessuch as the Navajo People .

If moral are n’t larn from the past tense , they contend , the US is sentence to make the same mistakes again .

“ We have a choice in front of us . admit the Pinyon Plain mine to proceed is subject this landscape and its interconnected amniotic fluid to a legacy of devastation and disregarding the rights of the Indigenous people on the ground , ” Sanober Mirza , Arizona program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association , enunciate in a Januarystatement .

“ Or we can take a different path – one that holds a promise of protect the Grand Canyon ’s cultural sanctity , its mass and natural resources , ” said Mirza .