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Article

3 Aug 2017

Author:
Joanna Walters, The Guardian (UK)

USA: Havasupai tribe raises concerns about potential water contamination & negative health impacts with Energy Fuels' uranium mine

"Uranium mining threatens a tribe's survival in the Grand Canyon." 17 July 2017

[T]he Havasupai Native Americans [are] a tiny community and the only one that lives within the depths of the Grand Canyon. The sole water source in their remote home of Supai Village is the pristine creek... [S]itting on top of the same aquifer, is a uranium mine preparing to go into production... The Canadian [mining] company, Energy Fuels Inc, pledges to operate safely... but the Havasupai...argue that any contamination of the groundwater from the mining operations will end up in Havasu Creek, destroying an ancient way of life if they leave the canyon, sickening them if they stay... Director of operations Donn Pillmore agreed that "accidents happen... but there’s no way that anything we do can contaminate the Havasu springs area...We are doing everything in our ability to operate in an environmental way."... The Havasupai, the Grand Canyon Trust and other environmental groups sued the Forest Service in 2013 for relying on old environmental studies when issuing Energy Fuels with its current permit, and for threatening a cultural site. The parties await the decision of the ninth circuit court of appeals.