Alarm as first uranium mine in years opens near Grand Canyon

A uranium mine near the Grand Canyon in Arizona, just 7 miles south of the national park, has recently commenced operations. This mine, named Pinyon Plain, is one of the first in the United States to open in eight years. The move comes as the U.S. aims to increase domestic uranium production, essential for nuclear energy, and move away from fossil fuels.

Located within the newly designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni national monument by President Joe Biden, the Pinyon Plain mine is owned and operated by Energy Fuels Inc. Uranium mining in the region had halted due to a federal ban on new mining claims around the Grand Canyon. However, an agreement at Cop28 to triple nuclear energy production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has spurred demand.

Energy Fuels Inc. started operations at the Pinyon Plain mine in December and is also ramping up production at its Pandora and La Sal mines in Utah. Rising uranium prices, increased interest from U.S. nuclear utilities, global policies supporting nuclear energy, and the goal to reduce reliance on Russian-controlled uranium are cited as reasons for the increased production.

The mine is expected to operate for 28 months and produce 1.57 million pounds of uranium. Energy Fuels claims its operations won't affect aquifers in the region and emphasizes state regulators' approval regarding water supplies. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued the company an "aquifer protection permit" in 2022, stating there is no science to support groundwater risk.

However, the Havasupai Tribe and local environmental groups oppose the mine, expressing concerns about potential contamination of their drinking water and damage to cultural sites. The tribe argues that there has been no comprehensive study of groundwater movement in the region, and a proposed plan for a long-term study of water impacts has stalled.

Carletta Tilousi, a former Havasupai council member leading the tribe's opposition, highlights the risk posed to the community's livelihood. The tribe fears that one mishap could permanently contaminate their sole water source during a drought, echoing historical issues faced by Indigenous communities due to uranium mining in the 20th century.

ग्रांड कैन्यन के निकट वर्षों में पहली यूरेनियम खदान खुलने का अलार्म।