Indigenous groups describe the detrimental impacts of uranium mining on their lives and lands. In short:Five tribes share with the Human Rights Commission how uranium mining legacy continues to affect them, with new mines threatening further harm. Legal directives overlook tribal consent, causing disproportionate fallout on Native lands, emphasizing urgent need for policy change. Key quote:“The U.S. has rarely, if ever, secured tribal consent for uranium production on and near tribal lands.”— Eric Jantz, legal director of the New Mexico Environmental Law CenterWhy this matters:Uranium mining processes can release toxic substances, including radioactive materials, into the water supply. Abandoned uranium mines and leftover pollution plague Western US tribes.

Source: Washington Post March 12, 2024 12:14 UTC