Opponents of a proposed uranium mine are hailing the Environmental Protection Agency's determination that 160 acres in northwest New Mexico is Indian Country.
The land is owned by Hydro Resources, Inc. But the EPA said that the site, near Church Rock, is a dependent Indian community due to the high percentage of Navajos living there [Final Determination of Indian Country Status for UIC Permitting].
"This is really a struggle for self-determination, tribal sovereignty and the right of people to be able to say what kind of industries they host in their communities," attorney Eric Jantz of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center tells The Santa Fe Reporter.
The Navajo Nation has banned uranium development on Navajo lands. Tribal leaders and members hope that will convince the federal government to reject any approvals for the mine.
Get the Story:Tribe Triumph (The Santa Fe Reporter 2/28) Relevant Links:
Indigenous World Uranium Summit 2006 - http://www.sric.org/uraniumsummit
Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining - http://www.endaum.org Related Stories:
Federal Register: Indian Country determination (2/27)
Uranium company to fight Indian Country status (2/27)
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)
