Uranium industry expansion sparks tribal health concerns

The push to expand domestic uranium production in the United States is intensifying health concerns among Indigenous communities in the Southwest. As the U.S. aims to quadruple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 and prepares to ban Russian uranium imports by 2028, the demand for domestic fuel is driving renewed interest in mining and processing.

In Utah, the White Mesa Mill—the nation’s only remaining conventional uranium mill—is at the center of a long-standing debate regarding radioactive contamination of air and water. Members of the Ute Mountain Ute tribe, living near the facility, have expressed fears over toxic waste and the potential spread of radionuclides, with many relying on bottled water due to safety concerns.

Recent federal efforts to fast-track mining projects have drawn criticism from local tribes. For example, the Velvet-Wood uranium mine in Utah recently completed its federal environmental review in just 11 days, leaving tribal members with only one week to provide input.