The Pinyon Plain Uranium Mine, the one that has made news in the last couple of weeks with its controversial transport of that element across Navajo Nation real estate, has not had an environmental impact study drawn up since it first came into existence close to 40 years ago.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes would like to rectify that and called on the conduct a supplemental Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for the Pinyon Plain Uranium Mine.”
In a press release announcing her request, the Attorney General wrote:
“The most recent environmental impact study on this mine is nearly four decades old and relies on outdated. With scientific advancements in the 21st century and new insights into aquifer connectivity, it is critical that the U.S. Forest Service conduct a supplemental study for the Pinyon Plain Mine. We must protect the water supplies that sustain the Havasupai Tribe and other communities in Northern Arizona. The risks are too great to ignore, and the consequences of inaction could be devastating for this region’s people, wildlife, and cultural heritage.”
In a letter written to Nicole Branton, the Supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Attorney General wrote of the need for the supplemental for historical and modern scientific methodology and technology reasons, stating:
“…Nevertheless, a supplemental EIS is now necessary because scientific advances in groundwater modeling unequivocally show that the 1986 EIS’s claim that the Mine is not a threat to regional water supplies is wrong. Failure to supplement the EIS could result in devastating consequences for the region—especially for vulnerable communities like the Havasupai Tribe.”
“The Forest Service’s 1986 EIS contends “construction and operation of the [M]ine will not impact the Redwall-Muav aquifer” because “[g]round water flows, if they exist, are likely to be at least 1,000 feet below” the Mine. The Forest Service’s assumptions about groundwater depth were proven incorrect in 2016 when EFRI likely punctured the Coconino aquifer during shaft sinking operations. EFRI has since pumped out tens of millions of gallons of water from the mine shaft.”
“Likewise, advances in hydrogeology undermine the Forest Service’s claim that the Redwall-Muav aquifer is unaffected by the Mine. A new, peer-reviewed study suggests Grand Canyon-area groundwater systems, including the Coconino aquifer EFRI punctured in 20166, are far more interconnected than the 1986 EIS posits. In fact, aquifers are linked through fault pathways that act as fluid superhighways— allowing heavy metals and other mining byproducts to travel to other groundwater reservoirs across the region. These pathways make it “highly likely” that mining contaminants will be transported between the Coconino and Redwall-Muav aquifers and into the broader Grand Canyon region…”
When asked why the Mine owners, Energy Fuel Resources, were not required to perform updated Environmental Impact studies, the A.G.’s office referred to the below portion of the A.G.’s letter to the Forest Service.
“The Forest Service developed its environmental impact status for the mine 38 years ago. When operations at the Mine resumed in 2012 after decades of being on “stand-by status,” a court found that resuming operations “was not an approval of a new project” thus, a new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis was not needed.”
A testament to the drawbacks of the deregulation push of the Reagan Administration and subsequent administrations that did not care for environmental regulation.
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David,
Were you aware of the reaffirmation of the old 2012 study and the 2022 OK given by a ADEQ when you wrote the post?
David? David? Hello, is anyone home?
Yeah, weirdo, you keep demanding answers like some MAGA Karen but you never answer ours.
Cowboy up and tell us where you stand like a man, and FYI, this isn’t a helpline, there are no people manning the phones waiting to take your call. LOL.
I believe the record will show that I was calling John Government Checks Kavanagh weird before the current trend.
JGCK – The OG Weirdo
I am sorry John but I am still waiting on the question I have asked you multiple times on whether you support Trump, the Neo Fascist rapist, twice impeached, convicted traitor or the Republic. When you respond to this question, I will be happy to reply to yours. Take care.
Nice dodge. You should not post if you can’t defend your position. Quite cowardly.
There is no position to defend. You asked about the permitting process which if you read the article, you will find the response to your question at the end of the article which where the A.G.’s office responded to the very question you asked.
I support Trump and do not believe he is what you say.
Putting a 34 count convicted felon & adjudicated rapist over country. Sounds about right for you Johnny Boy. You’re such a “Patriot”!
I support Trump and do not believe your characterizations of him. Now stop evading the issues.
That is rich coming from the person who took weeks responding to if he was for Trump or the Republic.
Okay Karen.
@Senator Kavanagh –
Misdirection and projection on your part doesn’t change the reality of your fealty to the cult of personality that is the modern GOP.
Oh John Government Checks Kavanagh, you’ve been evading the issue of Project 2025 for weeks now.
So we can only assume you fully 100% support it but are too baw bawk chicken to man up and admit it.
After day after day of trying to get you to commit to something, we finally got that worked out.
Whew.
A spokesperson for the mine said that the environmental study was reaffirmed in 2012 and that Arizona ADEQ gave a greenlight to the mine in 2022. Governor Hobbs office said it is one of the most closely watched mines in the US. Hasn’t Mayes spoken to the governor? You would think government departments would communicate wit each other, especially when they are members of the same party.
You would think someone posting about Project 2025 over and over, and over a period of days, would take a moment to find out what’s in it, but here you are.
Too busy to take five minutes to learn about what you’re talking about. LOL.
Coward who won’t tell us where he stands on issues while always demanding it from others. SMH.
I suppose you’ll share your positions on any given subject when ALEC and your out of state billionaire handlers tell you what they are. 🙂
@Sen. Kavanagh –
Maybe the persons who were governor of AZ in 2012 and 2022 should hire defense attorneys because of their apparent complicity in this
Maybe you should stop trying to distract folks with your introduction of partisan considerations.
Replying to Craig – Underrated comment.
Golf clap.
All of the undoubted assertions in the Attorney General’s call for a new environmental impact study underscore the need for the public to demand timely decision-making by both applicant developers and responsible government officials. Decision-making must not drag on for years. All parties to the project, and the public, deserve more responsible decision-making.
I agree. Based upon the statements of Governor Hobbs and ADEQ, the decision has been made and it seems to be a good one.
Best argument against something: JGCKl likes it.
Just a guess, but I’m thinking he wouldn’t be so enthusiastic about it if he and his neighbors were the ones affected by this.
hi John, I must have missed your reply when asked why you support convicted rapist and felon Donald J Trump and Project 2025.
I’m sure I missed it, because no way would you be so childish as to demand answers from people here but then not answer questions yourself.
Because that would be hypocritical. You don’t want to be one of those trolls, do you?
Of course not.
Good sesh.
kamalaharris.com
I just don’t know Sharpie, three times I’ve asked the “Good Senator” if he ever bravely beat up handcuffed suspects when he was a cop and have yet to receive a reply. On the other hand he hasn’t denied it….
Wileybud, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t understand the question…did a New Jersey transit cop ever do something bad?
It’s like asking if there’s any water in the ocean.
Interesting that New Jersey is famous for corruption.
JGCK now lives in Arizona living on government checks.
No idea if the two previous sentences are related.
For the record, no.