Havasupai Tribe Fights Back Against Controversial Uranium Mine Amid Energy Fuels’ Safety Claims

Carletta Tilousi, a member of the Havasupai tribe, recalls her childhood fear surrounding potential uranium mining near Supai, a village nestled within the canyons of the Grand Canyon. The Havasupai have consistently opposed such projects, specifically citing the area’s sacred significance and potential environmental impact.

“Our tribal leaders resisted when approached with promises of education and support,” Tilousi explained. Despite nearly four decades of advocacy, the Pinyon Plain Mine, located close to Havasupai ancestral lands, is now operational. Tilousi serves on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council and previously spent 20 years on the Havasupai Tribal Council, underscoring her ongoing commitment to this cause.

Energy Fuels Inc. operates the Pinyon Plain Mine and asserts that all safety measures are in place. The Havasupai express significant concern over the environmental impact, particularly regarding water sources that filter through the Grand Canyon. Havasu Falls, a popular tourist destination, represents not just a natural wonder but a vital water source for the Havasupai people, known in their language as “people of the blue-green waters.”

Uranium mining has been contentious within Southwestern tribal nations for decades, with the Navajo Nation suffering profound health consequences as a result of earlier mining operations. Tilousi reflects, “The stories of illness and distress within those communities highlight the dangers of uranium. This is an ore that should be left underground.”

In the early 1980s, numerous uranium mining claims were denied near the Grand Canyon, though Energy Fuels submitted a Plan of Operations for the Pinyon Plain Mine, originally known as the Canyon Uranium Mine, in 1984. The U.S. Forest Service later evaluated the project, leading to its approval in 1986, which allowed exploratory drilling to commence. The mine is said to contain 1.6 million pounds of uranium, one of the largest such deposits in the U.S.

Despite legal challenges from the Havasupai and neighboring tribes, mining resumed after an appeals court ruling in 1991 upheld the project. A surge of claims in 2007 reignited local opposition, which was addressed in part when former Secretary of State Ken Salazar withdrew specific public lands near the Grand Canyon from new mining claims for 20 years in 2012.

Recent federal protections were further solidified when President Joe Biden proclaimed the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in August 2022, aiming to shield the area from future mining endeavors. Despite these measures, a provision from the 1872 mining law allowed Energy Fuels to continue operations, citing prior approvals.

In December 2023, Energy Fuels announced that production had commenced at the Pinyon Plain Mine. The company continues to assert its commitment to safety, although local tribal nations and advocacy groups, including the Sierra Club, maintain their opposition. Curtis Moore, senior vice president of Energy Fuels, remarked, “We’ve improved practices significantly. There’s no evidence that modern operations have posed risks to health or the environment.”

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has called for a new environmental impact study, citing that the last one conducted is nearly four decades old. Environmental leaders like Sandy Bahr insist that modern research must inform any evaluations surrounding the mine’s impact.

Additionally, Energy Fuels has faced backlash over transporting uranium ore across the Navajo Nation, creating tensions with tribal leaders. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren has temporarily banned ore transportation across their lands, leading to ongoing negotiations with Energy Fuels.

As uranium extraction persists, the Havasupai and allied organizations remain committed to advocacy efforts. “If we don’t stand up, our elders and our future generations could suffer,” Tilousi cautioned. The struggle to safeguard their land continues, highlighting the intersection of environmental justice and indigenous rights.