Photo via the Navajo Nation Office of the President
By Shondiin Silversmith | AZ Mirror
After months of negotiation, the Navajo Nation and Energy Fuels Inc. have signed an agreement allowing the transport of uranium ore along federal and state highways throughout the Navajo Nation, with transportation set to resume in February.
“We have a settlement agreement that will allow the Navajo Nation to monitor and inspect the haul trucks and that provides financial compensation for the expenses to improve safety and protect the environment,” Stephen Etsitty, executive director of the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, said in a press release.
The agreement comes nearly six months after Energy Fuels, Inc., voluntarily halted transportation following the company’s first transport through the Navajo Nation with little notice to the tribe. The company then entered into negotiations with the Navajo Nation in August 2024 after the tribe condemned their actions.