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| Dine' protesting an agreement for uranium transport outside the Navajo government's meeting in the Navajo Capitol of Window Rock on Tuesday. "You should be ashamed of yourselves! Haul NO!" could be heard echoed from the loud speaker during the commission meeting inside. Video by Marley Shebala, Dine' and Zuni Pueblo, independent reporter. https://fb.watch/xI1OZDQMx1/ Radioactive Uranium Trucks will Travel Through Navajo Nation Today |
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Feb. 12, 2025
WINDOW ROCK, Navajo Nation -- Energy Fuels will begin transporting radioactive uranium waste through the Navajo Nation today, Wednesday. There will be two to twelve trucks a day with radioactive waste from the Grand Canyon mine, for the next three to four years, Haul NO! said.
In a region still strewn with radioactive waste from the Cold War, and gas and oil wells choking the people, now uranium waste will pass by Dine' homes with only a tarp covering tons of radioactive waste. The trucks will dump their loads in the White Mesa Ute community at the mill in southeastern Utah.
Navajo Utah Commission members voiced their opposition to the uranium transport during a meeting with Navajo Nation EPA Executive Director Stephen Etsitty on Tuesday. This comes after Energy Transfer announced an agreement with the tribe publically.
The Navajo Utah Commission meeting revealed that Energy Fuels gave the Navajo Nation government $1.2 million during the negotiations for the company to transport radioactive waste through the Navajo Nation.
Navajo Utah Commission member Todacheenie said that nothing can be safe where uranium is concerned.
The Navajo Utah Commission meeting revealed that Energy Fuels gave the Navajo Nation government $1.2 million during the negotiations for the company to transport radioactive waste through the Navajo Nation.
Navajo Utah Commission member Todacheenie said that nothing can be safe where uranium is concerned.
Responding at midnight, the Dine' grassroots group Bidí Roots said they will be at the Frontline US 160 in solidarity with community members today, Wednesday, that's anywhere from 89 Junction heading into Tuba City on US 160 and Main Street.
"Please be safe and take necessary actions to mask up and protect yourself while trucks pass. Join us February 22nd in Tuba City Arizona, 8 -- 4 pm, for ŁEETSO ÉI DOODA Awareness Walk."
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| Ready to Roll on Tuesday -- Pinyon Plain Mine uranium mining trucks shown here on Tuesday were ready to leave on Wednesday morning. The trucks were missing the labels on the side, which Navajo Nation EPA Stephen Etsitty said they would have while transporting. Dine' CARE, reporting after the meeting on Tuesday, said that all Navajo Utah Commission members are from Utah and spoke about their chapters' resolutions clearly stating their opposition to uranium. "They spoke about the many public health concerns they have for communities, children, elderly, and livestock owners who are often outdoors." |
"They talked about the lack of services from the clinics and hospitals nearest to them, Red Mesa does not have 24 EMS services. In some cases, Utah communities are absent of a public health nurse, community health representative, and emergency response team. The nearest hospital for them is in Flagstaff, which is four hours away."
"They brought up past uranium exposure victims and the lack of compensation coverage for downwinders. They spoke about their hazardous roads, uneven, including potholes and heavy, speedy traffic. They asked what communication and notification has been like to local chapters and schools. Would they also be notified of when a truckload of ore is passing through."
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Navajo Council Delegate Curtis Yanito, represents the region that the radioactive trucks will travel through, the Navajo chapters of Mexican Water, To’likan, Teesnospos, Aneth, Red Mesa.
Dine' CARE said, "Delegate Yanito asked whether the tarps covering the truck shield out radon."
"Commission member Victor stated that there should be more secure covering, rather than a tarp and that they should have been notified of this safety hazard from the very beginning, not at the 11th hour."
"They brought up other frustrations in also living with oil and gas and leasing that was recently approved that would impact precious stone offering sites. They asked if the money Navajo EPA negotiated to would reach the local chapters, because so far, much of what the tribe receives stays with the central government and hardly reaches chapters and local communities," Dine' CARE said.
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| Haul NO! said: "On Feb. 11, at a Navajo Utah Commission meeting, the voice of our concerned Diné communities speaks loud and clear opposing the bad decision by Navajo Nation to allow transport thru Western Navajo and to dump 10K tons of waste on our Utah relatives." |
Dine' CARE, Dine' Citizens Against Ruining our Environment, reported from the meeting.
What we learned from Navajo Nation EPA's Report on Uranium Transport Agreement
We were able to attend the Utah Commission Meeting and hear Navajo EPA, Stephen Etsitty’s report on the agreement terms between the uranium corporation Energy Fuels and the Navajo Nation. Etsitty explained that the tribe had prior moratoriums (2005 & 2012) on uranium mining, milling and transportation on Navajo Nation lands.
Yet, the tribe was limited in prohibiting radioactive transportation on federal highways, which is how Energy Fuels is able to ram their ore transport through tribal lands. Etsitty explained that there was back and forth communication between Navajo EPA and Energy Fuels for several months.
Etsitty stated that the uranium corporation only gave a 30 minute notice to them when they first began transporting in 2024, even though Navajo EPA had communicated they needed advance notice. Etsitty explained the tribe was advised not to pursue litigation, because they likely would not win and this could erode tribal sovereignty in the courts. Navajo Nation and EPA were advised to negotiate with the company and secure transportation safety measures.
Etsitty mentioned some of the negotiated terms, such as:
-The Navajo Nation can stop the trucks and do checks.
-They are requiring drivers pay a $450.00 a year for an additional vehicle license to the NN.
-A Fact Sheet will be given to Utah Officials.
-$1.2 million to Navajo Nation
-Some funds to Navajo EPA’s Safety Hazardous Fund, Emergency Planning, Hazmat Safety.
-Trainings will be required for safety responders, police, firefighters and EMS.
- Budgeting support to support staff, travel, record keeping.
-Transportation can only happen from Monday – Friday and from 8:30 am – 3pm.
Etsitty acknowledged this is a new area they are undertaking. Etsitty said the first truckload starts tomorrow and it will be two trucks. Energy Fuels received approved permitting from the Kaibab Forest Service to mine, transport and mill uranium for 2.5 – 3 years until 2027, from the Pinyon Plain Mine, near the Grand Canyon. Etsitty stated that Energy Fuel’s trucks currently meet all of the Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements, even with the tarp they use to cover their ore and radioactive materials.
Etsitty mentioned that the price of uranium is currently high, which is why uranium companies are opening new mines. Etsitty explained that radioactive transportation will be an issue for the tribe to grapple with because there are other mines and sites for clean up that will require transport and would travel through tribal lands. This is one mine. There are other mines that Energy Fuels owns and they own the mill in Utah, the only mill in the U.S.
Several Utah Commission members replied and asked questions after Etsitty’s report.
All Commission members are from Utah and spoke about their chapters resolutions clearly stating their opposition to uranium. They spoke about the many public health concerns they have for communities, children, elderly, and livestock owners who are often outdoors. They talked about the lack of services from the clinics and hospitals nearest to them, Red Mesa does not have 24 EMS services.
In some cases, Utah communities are absent of a public health nurse, community health representative, and emergency response team. The nearest hospital for them is in Flagstaff, which is four hours away. They brought up past uranium exposure victims and the lack of compensation coverage for downwinders.
They spoke about their hazardous roads, uneven, including potholes and heavy, speedy traffic. They asked what communication and notification has been like to local chapters and schools. Would they also be notified of when a truckload of ore is passing through. Delegate Yanito asked whether the tarps covering the truck shield out radon. Commission member Victor stated that there should be more secure covering, rather than a tarp and that they should have been notified of this safety hazard from the very beginning, not at the 11th hour.
They brought up other frustrations in also living with oil and gas and leasing that was recently approved that would impact precious stone offering sites. They asked if the money Navajo EPA negotiated to would reach the local chapters, because so far, much of what the tribe receives stays with the central government and hardly reaches chapters and local communities.
Utah Commission member Todacheenie made the comment that nothing can be safe, where uranium is concerned.
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Dine' CARE: Further questions we have are:
•What are the DOT’s safety requirements? Do they include the handling of radioactive materials?
•Will the emergency response plan that will be provided to chapters include how to handle radioactive contamination? This is more than hazardous waste.
•What would be the cost of a radioactive spill?
•How soon would teams on Navajo Nation be trained and ready for such a scenario?
•What translation services will be provided to the community in adequately relaying all of this info?
•How much radioactive waste has Energy Fuels committed to remediating in their agreement with Navajo Nation? How many abandoned sites will that cover?
Haul NO! reports from Tuesday's meeting:
• Between 2 -- 12 transportation trucks a day. July transport trucks were “fully loaded” with 25 tons of uranium ore.
• Transportation through Navajo Nation can only occur on weekdays, 8:30am -- 3:00pm (excluding certain times)
• Transportation may take up to 3 years, possibly 4 years.
CALL TO ACTION:
We want to encourage VISIBILITY!
This can be done through autonomous actions:
• Posting signs up
• Putting up banners (along side the haul route)
• Voicing your concerns with your council delegates & chapters
Please stay safe and practice safety measures to protect yourself.
SAFETY:
We do not encourage standing along the haul route due to safety risks such as possible exposure to radiation and high traffic activity.
We encourage wearing masks (such as KN95s, N95s) in all areas contaminated by uranium and places of possible exposure.
For folks protesting, we encourage everyone to know your rights and read available “Know Your Rights” information, such as by ACLU and other legal resources.
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