#environmentalreview — Public Fediverse posts

#Uranium company’s finalized #NewMexico plan includes treating, dumping water into nearby river

#DinéActivist says #EnergyFuels doesn’t understand #MountTaylor’s sacredness

Thursday, May 28, 2026
By Patrick Lohmann,

"A #Colorado uranium company recently submitted a finalized operation plan to New Mexico officials, signaling that it — along with multiple other out-of-state companies — is increasingly serious about mining uranium in the state.

"Energy Fuels, Inc. submitted a 273-page operations and '#reclamation' plan earlier this month that details how it plans to extract uranium from more than 1,600 feet below the surface within the #CibolaNationalForest boundaries in McKinley County, then transport it to its mill in #BlandingUT.

"New Mexico Environmental Law Center Legal Director Eric Jantz told Source NM on Tuesday that the plan represents the company’s renewed intent to receive a permit following more than a decade on hiatus.

" 'We’re taking it seriously,' he said of the plan. 'And we’re going to be doing what we can to make sure that this #EnvironmentalReview is done properly, and that community interests are protected.'

"The company’s plan describes how it would pump #groundwater from the mineshaft to access the #UraniumOre, then treat the water and release it into the nearby #RioSanJose. Jantz told Source NM that the 'dewatering”'of the mine is an immense technical undertaking and one that threatens to deplete the #groundwater supply during a period of prolonged #drought.

" 'It’s gonna deplete the water table in a significant radius around the proposed mine, and that water table won’t recover for decades, if ever,' he said.

"Energy Fuels officials did not respond to Source NM’s emailed request for comment Tuesday.

"In addition to the 'dewatering,' the proposed mine site lies within the boundaries of the Mount Taylor Traditional Cultural Property. Mount Taylor is sacred to several #Indigenous tribes and pueblos in New Mexico, including the #Navajo and #Laguna peoples.

"Energy Fuels’ operations plan notes that if its permit is approved, the company will take steps to preserve the 'viewshed' of Mount Taylor in recognition of the #SacredMountain and will, to the extent possible, 'protect scenic values' at the site.

"After reading that section of the plan, Diné anti-nuclear advocate #LeonaMorgan told Source NM that Energy Fuels officials clearly do not understand the value of Mount Taylor to the Navajo people.

" 'It’s not just a visual aspect. It’s not just to look at the mountain. It’s for the integrity of the mountain itself,' she said. 'When we’re talking about #SacredPlaces and #MotherEarth, these are our relatives. That’s how we consider them. They themselves have rights and definitely should not be basically raped and pillaged, which is what mining is.' "

Read more:
https://indianz.com/News/2026/05/28/source-new-mexico-uranium-mine-under-consideration-near-sacred-mount-taylor/

#NoUraniumMining #IndigenousResistance #ProtectTheSacred #IndigenousNews #NativeAmericanNews

#ApacheStronghold 'We Are Still Fighting'

Statement from Dr. #WendslerNosie Sr.
March 20, 2026

"Many of you have heard that on Friday, the Ninth Circuit again refused to stop the Government from giving #OakFlat to #ResolutionCopper for destruction. This is sad news. But we will never stop fighting to protect Oak Flat and each place that is sacred to our people. And we are still fighting—in the courts, in Congress, and, most importantly, spiritually.

In the courts, there are still four lawsuits seeking to protect Oak Flat. All four cases are still going. And any one of these cases could still put a stop to the Government’s and Resolution’s plans to destroy Oak Flat:

- In Lopez v. United States, on the day after Friday’s ruling, seven brave Apache women filed an emergency appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the Court to stop the mine and protect Oak Flat. The Supreme Court could rule on that appeal any day. The women in that case can also ask the Ninth Circuit to reconsider its ruling in their case. The deadline to ask for reconsideration is April 27, 2026. That case focuses on religious freedom.
- In #SanCarlosApache Tribe v. United States, also part of Friday’s ruling, the Tribe can also ask the Ninth Circuit to reconsider its ruling and/or appeal to the Supreme Court. That case focuses on the Tribe’s rights, tribal consultation, and the inadequacy of the government’s decision-making process.
- In Arizona #Mining Reform Coalition v. United States, also part of Friday’s ruling, several environmental groups and the Inter-Tribal Association of Arizona can also ask the Ninth Circuit to reconsider its ruling and/or appeal to the Supreme Court. That case focuses on the government’s unfair appraisal of Oak Flat and inadequate #EnvironmentalReview.
- Apache Stronghold v. United States, which is our case, has been 'stayed' (or temporarily put on hold) waiting for the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, which came on Friday. Now that the Ninth Circuit has ruled, our case will start again in the district court. We will continue making every possible legal claim to protect Oak Flat.

In Congress, on Tuesday, Representative #AdelitaGrijalva introduced legislation to preserve public lands in the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District and fight back against the proposed mine. This bill is an important part of the fight to protect Oak Flat.

But even more than legally and politically, we are continuing to fight spiritually. This fight has never been primarily about law or politics. It is about who we are as human beings, religiously and spiritually. If we allow sacred places to be destroyed for profit, we are saying that nothing is truly sacred. We are losing something essential about our humanity—our ability to respect #MotherEarth, to honor what is holy, and to live in balance with the world around us.

That is why we are calling on all people to continue raising their voices, in prayer and protest, to protect Oak Flat—to protect the sacred. We, the Apache Stronghold, invite you to an upcoming spiritual gathering on March 28-29, 2026 at Oak Flat.

The legal system may try to reduce our struggle to questions of ownership and profit. But our connection to Mother Earth predates those systems. It is something each one of us is born into, something we carry in our prayers, our songs, and our way of life. No matter what the courts rule, no matter what the government tries to do, we will never stop fighting to preserve our sacred places. We will not lose our connection to the Creator."

Source:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2026/03/apache-stronghold-we-are-still-fighting.html

#ChíchilBiłdagoteel #ProtectOakFlat #SanCarlosApache #ResolutionCopper #Arizona #RioTinto #SaveOakFlat #CopperMining #Fight4OurExistance #SacredLand #TontoNationalForest #WesternApaches #ProtectTheSacred #IndigenousNews #IndigenousActivism #CorporateColonialism #DefendTheSacred #CensoredNews #ReaderSupportedNews