Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S. producer of uranium, rare earth elements (REE), and critical minerals, and the Navajo Nation, the largest indigenous tribe in the U.S., announced the signing of a landmark agreement governing the transport of uranium ore along federal and state highways crossing the Navajo Nation. Ore transport from Energy Fuels’ Pinyon Plain mine in northern Arizona to the company’s White Mesa Mill in southern Utah is now expected to resume in February 2025.
“The Navajo Nation has suffered longstanding impacts from uranium mining conducted during the cold war era, resulting in numerous abandoned mine and mill sites on their lands. This has understandably caused mistrust toward the U.S. government and energy companies,” said Energy Fuels President and CEO Mark Chalmers. “I am personally honored that the Navajo Nation was willing to work with us in good faith to address their concerns and ensure that uranium ore transportation through the Navajo Nation will be done safely and respectfully.”
“We appreciate the sincere approach the Energy Fuels’ negotiation team took with the Navajo Nation. They demonstrated a genuine understanding for the Navajo Nation’s and the Navajo People’s trauma regarding uranium and engaged as a partner in good faith to build a trusting relationship,” stated Acting Attorney General Heather Clah. “We look forward to Energy Fuels fulfilling their commitments to the Nation.”
Under the agreement, Energy Fuels has agreed to add additional protections and accommodations over and above the existing, strict U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) requirements, including:
- limiting transportation to specified routes and hours of the day;
- not transporting ore on days involving celebrations or public events in respect of the Navajo Nation’s culture and traditions;
- clearly spelled out emergency response procedures, notice and reporting requirements;
- additional insurance requirements;
- additional driver qualification and training requirements;
- obtaining Navajo Nation transport licenses;
- use of state-of-the-art cover systems to prevent fugitive dust from transport trucks;
- provisions for escorts and blessings at the discretion of the Nation; and
- additional inspection procedures that will enable the Navajo Nation to ensure that all applicable rules and agreements are being satisfied.
Additionally, the company has committed to accepting and transporting, at no cost to the Nation, up to 10,000 tons of uranium-bearing cleanup materials from abandoned uranium mines within the Navajo Nation, which are primarily an unfortunate relic of old U.S. government uranium programs that began in the 1940s, in which Energy Fuels had no involvement.
Energy Fuels has also committed to make further contributions to support the Nation’s transportation safety programs, education, the environment, public health and welfare, and local economic development on the Navajo Nation relating to uranium matters. Negotiation of the agreement began in August 2024, after the company voluntarily halted shipments of uranium ore, and has involved numerous in-person and virtual meetings between the company and the Nation’s senior leadership.
