The first six transports of uranium ore from the Pinyon Plain Mine in northern Arizona were delivered to Utah last week.
The first two shipments of uranium ore left the mine south of the Grand Canyon last Wednesday. According to Energy Fuels, which owns the mine, at least six shipments have traveled to its White Mesa mill without incident and will ultimately be delivered to nuclear utilities for energy.
Energy Fuels, which owns the mine, says the shipments meet federal compliance are inspected by Navajo Nation officials after entering the tribal land.
Flagstaff officials say the city is opposed to uranium mining and transport in the region but like the Navajo tribe, can’t stop its transport on the highways Energy Fuels will travel on.
"The Flagstaff City Council continues to advocate against the mining of uranium and its transport in and through our region, including passing multiple resolutions and supporting federal legislation that would restrict uranium mining and transport," wrote city public affairs director Sarah Langley in response to our questions.
"While the Flagstaff City Council opposes the transport of uranium ore through our community, the City Council does not have jurisdiction over federal or state highways. The City is also a strong partner of the Navajo Nation."
The city’s fire department would evaluate and treat containment but cleanup of an accidental spill would be managed by a contractor provided by Energy Fuels.
Robert Oberly is the program manager for the Flagstaff Fire Department’s hazard response.
"We would be less concerned with the radiological content that they’re carrying. It’s unrefined soil essentially. It’s above the ambient level that’s around us everywhere but it’s very low energy and very low hazard," he said.
The department has equipment to detect radiation levels, but "it wouldn’t probably even register as elevated on our readers," he said.
That is part of a negotiated agreement between Energy Fuels and the Navajo government, which tried to stop the shipments entirely but could not enforce restrictions on the U.S. highways cutting across the land. The transports also cross local governments like Flagstaff on their way to Utah.
Energy Fuels senior vice president of marketing Curtis Moore says the company has hauled several hundreds of thousands of tons of uranium across the Navajo Nation in the past 20 years without incident.
The Havasupai tribe, whose home is at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, complained of the resumed transports last Friday.
“Today there are two trucks, by month’s end it will be four trucks, each hauling 24 tons of this dangerous and highly toxic material. It is clear that EFRI has no regard and is simply acting in their own self-interest,” the tribal council wrote.
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