Activists demand halt to uranium mining near Grand Canyon

Environmentalists and tribal members are urging Arizona officials to end uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, citing health and environmental risks.

Noel Lyn Smith reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• Activists delivered a petition with over 17,500 signatures to Governor Katie Hobbs, calling for the closure of the Pinyon Plain Mine.
• Uranium mining poses significant health risks and threatens water sources critical to the Grand Canyon's ecosystem and local communities.
• The governor’s office acknowledged receipt but has yet to take action on the petition.

Key quote:

“The safe thing to do, the prudent thing to do, is to avoid that risk altogether and close the mine.”

— Taylor McKinnon, director of the Center for Biological Diversity

Why this matters:

The Grand Canyon has long been a battleground for conservation efforts. Uranium mining, with its potential to contaminate water sources and disrupt ecosystems, adds a new layer of urgency to these efforts. The Havasupai Tribe, whose ancestral lands lie within the Grand Canyon, has been vocal about the threats posed to their health and way of life. Contaminated water sources could have devastating effects on both human populations and the diverse wildlife that call the canyon home.