Agreement Reached on Uranium Transport Across Navajo Lands
A mining company from Colorado has come to terms with the Navajo Nation, permitting the resumption of uranium transportation over tribal territories in northern Arizona. This development follows the company’s previous transportation activities, which faced opposition from both the tribe and local authorities.
Energy Fuels initially started moving uranium from the Pinyon Plain Mine to a processing facility in Blanding, Utah, last July. The Navajo Nation objected, citing a lack of prior notification, leading to a temporary suspension of the transports as Arizona engaged in discussions.
The new agreement with the Navajo Nation incorporates several stipulations: routes and times for transport are restricted, no shipments during public events or ceremonies, cutting-edge covering systems to minimize dust emission, and the provision for blessings and escorts when requested by the tribe.
According to Curtis Moore from Energy Fuels, “We’ve entered into what all parties believe to be a landmark agreement between Energy Fuels and the Navajo Nation.” Moore emphasized that the deal will “help the Navajo Nation deal with some of those old uranium mines on their land” that have historically caused distress.
The company has pledged to transport up to 10,000 tons of uranium waste from shuttered mines. The Navajo Nation has identified 523 uranium waste sites, with one of the largest containing over a million tons of residual material, according to Stephen Etsitty, executive director of the Navajo EPA.
Financially, the agreement requires Energy Fuels to pay a $450 license fee for ore transport, alongside a one-time payment of $1.2 million intended to bolster emergency response initiatives. Moreover, the tribe will receive 50 cents per pound of processed uranium, amounting to roughly $40,000 to $50,000 monthly, based on uranium quality and concentration.
Etsitty plans to discuss the deal with other tribal entities and groups against the uranium ore’s regional transport. He explained, “I just would like to make sure that they know we did a really thorough review… it was in our best interest to sit down at the negotiating table as opposed to potentially getting into legal battle with the company.”
Despite having restrictions against radioactive transport on their lands, the Navajo Nation’s restrictions do not cover the state and federal highways Energy Fuels will use. Etsitty remarked, “I would say we’ve signed off on them. So we’re fine with what we negotiated. Happy? I would just say we approved them and look forward to implementing them.”
The renewed transportation efforts are set to begin in February.
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