Utah Mountain Ute Tribe leads coalition of environmental groups against uranium mill

Members of the White Mesa community, a branch of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe located in southeastern Utah, have partnered with a coalition of over twenty environmental organizations and Indigenous groups to voice concerns about the potential toxic waste exposure from a nearby Energy Fuels uranium mill. The coalition argues that the mill poses significant threats to environmental and public health through the disposal of radioactive waste, the continuation of uranium mining, and the transport of uranium ore through tribal lands. In a formal letter addressed to the Utah governor and state legislators, tribal leaders emphasized the urgent need to address these issues, framing the problem not only as a public health concern, but as a matter of environmental justice and tribal sovereignty.

 Energy Fuels maintains that they operate their uranium mill in compliance with environmental and safety regulations, asserting there is minimal risk to the nearby communities. However, critics argue that such practices perpetuate environmental damage and reinforce longstanding inequities for Native peoples, who have historically been disproportionately affected by the nuclear industry.

 Vandenack, T. (2025, August 14). Environmental, Indigenous groups join in calls against Blanding uranium mill. KSL.com. https://www.ksl.com/article/51360324/environmental-indigenous-groups-join‑in‑calls‑against‑blanding‑uranium‑mill