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Energy Fuels extends pause on transporting uranium through Navajo Nation

More than a ton of uranium ore from the Pinyon Plain Mine sits on an ore pad, which is permitted to hold up to 13,000 pounds.
Gabriel Pietrorazio/KJZZ
More than a ton of uranium ore from the Pinyon Plain Mine sits on an ore pad, which is permitted to hold up to 13,000 pounds. 
Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation

Last week, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the Navajo Nation reached an agreement with a mining company to extend its pause on the transportation of uranium ore through the tribe’s land.

The Navajo Nation and the mining company, Energy Fuels, reportedly started negotiations on transportation on Thursday.

Energy Fuels has said it will stop transportation of uranium ore while talks continue. There was no date listed for when transportation might resume.

In late July, Navajo President Buu Nygren issued an executive order requiring an agreement be in place before companies could transport radioactive material through the Navajo Nation.

Coconino County and neighboring tribes say Energy Fuels had promised to notify them if it would be transporting uranium through their land, however Energy Fuels disputed that claim.

More Tribal Natural Resources News

Greg Hahne started as a news intern at KJZZ in 2020 and returned as a field correspondent in 2021. He learned his love for radio by joining Arizona State University's Blaze Radio, where he worked on the production team.