Via U.S. Forest Service
By Reagan Priest | Arizona Capitol Times
Attorney General Kris Mayes is asking the U.S. Forest Service to conduct an environmental impact study on the Pinyon Plain Mine in northern Arizona, despite reassurances from Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office that the mine is safe and regularly inspected by state officials.
In a letter sent Aug. 13, Mayes expressed concern about the mine’s impact on the water supply of northern Arizona tribal communities that live near it. According to Mayes’ letter, the Forest Service has not conducted an environmental review of the mine in 38 years and the original review “is based on an outdated, inaccurate understanding of the risks posed by the Mine.”
The mine had been dormant for decades, but uranium mining began in December after prices for the mineral went up. Since mining began, environmental and Indigenous rights groups have raised concerns about the impact Pinyon Plain could have on the area’s water supply, communities and historical landmarks.
