A coalition made up of 80 conservation and faith groups, tribes and scientists are calling on Gov. Katie Hobbs to close a uranium mine less than 10 miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
They want the governor to rescind permits issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to the owners of the Pinyon Plain Mine.
It’s located within a newly created national monument that bans new uranium mining claims on nearly a million acres.
The groups say the mine threatens tribal sacred sites along with groundwater in and near the Grand Canyon.
The mine’s owner, Energy Fuels Resources, announced the start of uranium ore production late last year and has said it doesn’t endanger the area’s environment or water.