Uranium company to fight Indian Country status

Tuesday, February 27, 2007  

A uranium mining company plans to challenge the Indian Country status of 160 acres in northwestern New Mexico.

Hydro Resources, Inc. wants to open a uranium mine near Church Rock. The company owns the land but the Environmental Protection Agency says it is considered Indian Country due to the Navajo character of the local community.

That means the company has to follow federal environmental laws. Additionally, the Navajo Nation passed a laws outlawing uranium development on Navajo lands.

The issue is before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Opponents of the mine are fighting a license the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued to the company.

Get the Story:
HRI seeks reversal of EPA ruling (The Gallup Independent 2/26)

Relevant Links:
Indigenous World Uranium Summit 2006 - http://www.sric.org/uraniumsummit
Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining - http://www.endaum.org

Related Stories:
Navajos sue to stop uranium mine in New Mexico (2/13)
Indigenous uranium summit at Navajo Nation (11/29)
Editorial: Clean up uranium on Navajo Nation (11/27)
LA Times series on Navajo Nation uranium mining (11/22)
LA Times series on Navajo Nation uranium mining (11/21)
Onondaga Nation makes big filing in land claim suit (11/20)
Navajo Nation hosts indigenous uranium summit (11/13)
Navajo Nation to allow uranium waste transport (10/25)
Navajo group opposes return of uranium mining (09/28)
Navajo Nation wins Nuclear-Free Future Award (09/28)
Judge rules on uranium mining at Navajo sites (07/27)
Mining an issue as Navajo Nation Council meets (04/20)
Nuclear panel halts uranium mining at Navajo sites (03/03)