WINDOW ROCK, Ariz – Even though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claimed uranium mining on the Navajo Nation stopped in 1986, the fight against it continues to this day.
On September 27, the EPA announced a commitment to clean up seven abandoned uranium mines in the Eastern Navajo Agency: Mariano Lake, Mac 1 & 2, Black Jack 1 & 2, and Ruby 1 & 3.
The EPA outlined three cleanup strategies for these abandoned mine sites. The Mac 1 and 2, Black Jack 1 and 2, and Mariano Lake sites will undergo excavation, with the waste being transported to two designated repository sites. Conversely, the Ruby 1 and 3 mines will involve the consolidation and capping of mine waste at its current location.
Dawn Begay, environmental specialist for the Navajo Nation EPA (NEPA), has participated in numerous EPA meetings focused on the cleanup efforts. Begay notes significant challenges, including a lack of community engagement and understanding of the cleanup process.
“The community members often feel unheard and frustrated,” said Begay, who says better communication with the public needs to get better.
Stephen Etsitty, executive director for NEPA, shared insights on the lengthy collaboration between the U.S. EPA, NEPA, and various stakeholders. This clean up effort in the Eastern Navajo Agency between NEPA and U.S. EPA over decades has since culminated in a comprehensive document known as the Engineering Evaluation Cost Analysis Document, or EECA. The EECA document is between 800 to 1,000 pages, he said.
“By March 8, they finally decided to close their comment period,” Etsitty noted, acknowledging the community’s need for additional time.
Community feedback on the cleanup plans has been mixed. While some residents expressed satisfaction with the proposed clean up measures, others voiced their concerns would never be addressed.
“Many feel that voicing their concerns won’t change anything,” Begay said. She recounted a conversation with two brothers from the Black Jack site, who felt frustrated and unheard regarding the fate of their land. “They were really concerned about what was going to happen to their allotment,” she said.
The concerns of the brothers at the Black Jack site reflects a broader issue regarding land rights and jurisdictions.
Through the Navajo Nation Buyback Program, the Navajo Nation has become the primary landholder in the area, often sidelining individual allottees like the brothers. This shift has led to feelings of disempowerment, as the larger tribal government diminishes individual voices.
Begay noted that community engagement at meetings has been notably low.
“There was extremely low engagement from the community for numerous reasons,” she said.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) attended these sessions and acknowledged the need for better outreach from the U.S EPA, especially to Navajo allottees.
Etsitty has also advocated for increased participation from allottees, emphasizing the importance of their involvement in decision-making processes.
To support this, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren partnered with Etsitty and signed letters of support to reinforce the need for greater community engagement in U.S. EPA efforts.
President Nygren articulated the ongoing struggle. “Even though the uranium mines on the Navajo Nation have shut down, we still continue to fight for our rights as Navajo people. Right now, it’s about the basic human right to voice our concerns.”
President Nygren stressed the importance of continuous outreach to allottees, adding that it cannot be limited to just a few attempts at engagement.
As cleanup efforts proceed, the legacy of uranium mining and milling in the Navajo Nation remains a potent issue – intertwining environmental, social, and cultural challenges. The commitment from the U.S. EPA to remediate these sites is a step forward, yet the path ahead is fraught with complexities that require ongoing advocacy and community involvement.
The struggle against the impacts of uranium mining on the Navajo Nation is far from over.
As the EPA moves forward with cleanup efforts, it will be critical to ensure that all community voices are heard and that individual landholders are actively involved in shaping the future of their lands. The fight for recognition, rights, and health continues and echoes the sentiments of those who have long lived under the shadow of uranium mining and milling.
