July 19, 2006 -- Forced Uranium Mining in the Navajo Nation?

Native American land in the US is sovereign...beyond the grasp of the US gov't, governed locally, allegedly protected by many treaties with the US. However, a mining company, with the help of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), is securing permits and resuming mining despite the vote of the Navajos to prohibit it. Could that happen here?

Last April (2005), the Navajo Nation Council voted 63-19 to ban uranium mining on Navajo land. The vote was in response to efforts by Hydro Resources, Inc., (HRI) to get a license to re-initiate uranium mining in Indian country using a technique called "in situ" mining. Proponents say it's safer than any other method of uranium extraction, but the Navajo Nation has been mined before and they're not so keen on reliving the experience.

For almost 40 years, beginning in the late 1940s, large quantities of uranium were mined on their land. Many Navajo still suffer related physical ailments. They are none too eager to open up their land to an industry they have been ravaged by, however safe and efficient they are told it will be. Unfortunately, they may have no choice. HRI has been working in conjunction with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to get a license to mine the land since the late 1990s, and it looks like they're about to make a move.

Read more about the Navajo battle and the mining here: http://www.mediafire.com/?1vg9yztlbya