10th Circuit Says Churchrock Navajo Land

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver upheld the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Interior that the Churchrock Section 8 uranium project is located in Indian Country and is part of the Navajo Nation.  

The decision means that the Texas based company that wants to operate an underground injection uranium mine there will have to obtain its underground injection control permit from EPA rather the New Mexico Department of the Environment.  

The Navajo Nation enacted a ban on uranium mining and milling in April 2005. 

The 10th Circuit decisions also may apply to other uranium mining states, including Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Read more here.