I reported in January that
Canadian uranium companies wanted to start mining uranium again on the Navajo reservation. The mining in the 1920's through the 80's left Navajo's with radiation sickness, contaminated tailings and contaminated water.
Uranium mining left a
bitter legacy (subscription required) on the Navajo reservation. Companies first began mining here in 1918 around the Carrizo Mountain area, around 30 miles west of Shiprock. The pace dramatically increased after World War II as the Cold War began. The Vanadium Corporation of America and Kerr-McGee were the principal owners of the mines, and they have been harshly criticized for not informing workers about the dangers they faced.
Ominous signs appeared in early 1960 as longtime workers began to fall ill. A report a year earlier had found that some Navajo miners had radiation levels
ninety times that of the acceptable limits. Of the 150 Navajo uranium miners who worked at the uranium mine in Shiprock until 1970,
133 had died of lung cancer or various forms of fibrosis by 1980. (emphasis mine)
See you on the down low...
Gee, only 88% fatalities in one mine.
According to a 1993 Congressional report: "When mining ceased in the late 1970's, mining companies walked away from the mines without sealing the tunnel openings, filling the gaping pits, sometimes hundreds of feet deep, or removing the piles of radioactive uranium ore and mine waste. Over 1,000 of these unsealed tunnels, unsealed pits and radioactive waste piles still remain on the Navajo reservation today, with Navajo families living within a hundred feet of the mine sites. The Navajo graze their livestock here, and have used radioactive mine tailings to build their homes. Navajo children play in the mines, and uranium mine tailings have turned up in school playgrounds."
These sites have not been cleaned up and uranium companies in Canada and the US wanted to start mining again this year. These companies also developed an in situ method that prevented above ground tailings by using a slurry extraction underground. Opponents argued that the ground water would be contaminated.
George Arthur, a member of the Navajo council and chairman for the Resources Committee sponsored a bill, the Diné Natural Resources Protection Act of 2005 to ban uranium mining on the reservation.
The legislation passed unanimously through all five committees to which it was assigned.
The legislation then needed to be approved by the Navajo Nation council during their winter session this past January. The vote was postponed until the Spring Session.
I read various articles that a decision couldn't be met but I also read articles that stated that Navajo Nation President Shirley was dead set against the mining.
While speaking to the Shiprock Chapter House, Shirley restated his opposition to lifting the current moratorium on uranium mining. He said that the federal government is again interested in mining uranium and may turn to the Navajo reservation as a source.
"We're at a critical point in the country regarding the use of uranium," he said. "I'm dead-set against uranium mining on Navajoland. I'd like to outright outlaw the thing. There's no cure for uranium radiation exposure. I'll do everything I can to get the legislation passed."
I also read another article which I can't find right now that said a uranium company in Texas was paying stipends to Navajo families and these families attended the Navajo Council sessions and pleaded with the council to please approve the mining offers. (I will find the article and put a link in later.)
The good news came yesterday for a nice Earth Day entrance.
The Navajo Nation Council has outlawed uranium mining and processing on the reservation that sprawls across parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The measure must be approved by tribal President Joe Shirley Jr.
Shirley's spokesman, George Hardeen, says the Navajo president strongly supports the measure.
While I have been anxiously awaiting the council's vote I see that there will still be a fight even though the Navajo nation is sovereign.
Several council delegates predict the legislation will be challenged in court.
Hardeen says that would be an interesting battle.
He says the Navajo Nation is sovereign, and that means it can pass its laws and live by them.
In his words: " It would be interesting to see an outside company, especially a uranium processing company, take the Navajo Nation to court over this."
My experience is that mining interests can be very powerful and the current adminstration is not doing anything to protect the Navajo Nation.
BTW, I hope you all signed Senator Kennedy's petition against William Myers.
Bush has nominated Myers for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals -- the largest federal court of appeals, and a potential stepping stone to the Supreme Court. It also has jurisdiction over vast expanses of public land and priceless natural resources -- which makes a person like Myers especially unfit to serve.
I really feel that Myers is being groomed for an effort by the Bush administration to revamp all environmental laws to be in favor of corporate interests like uranium mining. They can see that the whole world wants uranium. I am very afraid.
The rising prices of uranium will drive this issue. Our fight will continue.
Update [2005-4-22 14:7:10 by navajo]: More reports
here and here. :
The Navajo Nation Council, after heated debate that focused on several amendments, voted 63-19 Tuesday in favor of the Dine Natural Resources Protection Act of 2005. Dine is the Navajos' name for themselves.
The council deleted a provision that would have let individuals who wanted to mine or process uranium to seek approval from several council committees.
I will try to find out who the 19 are that voted no.
Update [2005-4-23 12:29:50 by navajo]: I should mention that there is a group that is dedicated to fighting this particular issue.
ENDAUM is a very good example of a grassroots environmental justice organization. Standing for Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining, it’s entire mission is to confront and stop all uranium mining from occurring on or near Navajo lands. In this mission they are unique. There exists no other organization in the state dedicated solely to fighting uranium mining.