POLICIES OF NAVAJO URANIUM MINNING IN THE NAJAVO NATION

Navajo as a nation has those regulations to safeguard their limited uranium resources, allowing its exploitation while sustaining the life of the environment and the miners. The ones on the environment that will be looked at include the mining act, water act, and clean air act, all these were enacted at different eras to safeguard the wellbeing of the environment and the mineral resources. However, those focusing on the human health including the miners are directly or indirectly accommodated within the highlighted ones. Additionally, the government of Navajo has a public health service that drafts appropriate regulations to safeguard the lives of the uranium miners within the nation. The research thus focuses on a detailed review of these laws and regulations and their impact on uranium mining in Navajo nation.

The post-natal mortality rate amongst Navajo infants is 2. 1 times higher than the national average. Navajo Nation has more than thousand mines and four uranium mills on the reservation land. Of the 150 men who worked in the mines during the days of active mining, 133 miners died of lung cancer or other lung diseases by 1980. Unsealed tunnels, pits, and piles of radioactive wastes lie unattended on Navajo Nation (Moore-Naal, 2015). It highlights the importance of a thorough review of excavation sites before initiation of mining activities. Unchecked mining in Navajo lands made toxic effluents reach homes, playgrounds and agricultural lands of the residents. Lack of uncontaminated water and food led to diseases and environmental disasters that still plague these inhabitants. It is highly unlikely that the people of the Navajo will let their lands be used for mining again, given the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act, 2005, and their firm belief in Dine teachings.

Thus, the government must consider investing in alternative sources of energy to sustain this population. Families even reportedly used contaminated water for cooking and cleaning purposes, contaminated rocks close to the mining areas were used for laying roads and for construction purposes (Carrie, 2014). Poor health outcomes in the natives were further exacerbated by social disparities such as poor socioeconomic status, low levels of education and poor infrastructure (Lewis et al. Piles of contaminated wastes dotted the landscapes of the Navajo Nation due to decades of incessant mining (Carrie, 2014). However, it was not only human health and environment that was affected in Navajo. Loss of land led to the loss of certain occupations, such as sheep rearing. The Harmful Effects of Uranium Exposure on Environment and Human Health Several studies in the past were conducted with the aim of accessing the level of uranium contamination in Navajo Nation.

Some of them were the Abandoned Uranium Mines Project, Briet Sampling, DiNEH Project, Navajo Nation Unregulated Water Source Sampling and Radiation Assessment of Unregulated Drinking Water Sources. According to a study by Joseph et al. (2017), 75% of the water sources in Navajo Nation had a median uranium concentration of about 3. 8µg/L, which is 12. These laws have to be established and implemented for the good of the employees. The governing bodies entitled for such enactment ought to be a task to implement the law. Methods A literature search for the topic was performed using Google Scholar. The keywords “Navajo Nation Mining Legacy” were typed in the search toolbar. 2,160 articles pertaining to the topic were returned when the search was customized to include articles since 2013.

As a result, this patchwork of laws, regulations, and regulatory responsibilities creates problems and challenges (Chair, 2012). These include (1) an increase in the amount of time and resources that potential licensees must expend to understand the system so that they are able to apply for permits and licenses and to meet technical requirements; (2) considerable difficulty and barriers for members of the public who wish to understand and participate in the permitting and licensing processes; (3) coordination issues among state and federal agencies and staff; and (4) obtaining the necessary technical expertise to understand both the radiological and non-radio logical risks, and the requirements for their mitigation (Fleck, 2010). Under the Mining Law of 1872, as amended, mining on federally owned land is subject to federal regulation.

This law requires that individuals who seek to mine on public land meet requirements regarding claim staking, maintenance, and patenting. Uranium mining authorized under the 1872 Mining Law must comply with the regulations of the federal agency managing the land; for example, the Department of Agriculture has established a series of requirements that apply in national forests (Hart et al, 2015). But the Native American Tribal Trust Funds were poorly managed, and the promised monetary benefit failed to reach the residents (Lewis et al. The governmental laws which regulate the ownership of the land and environment conservation have improved uranium mining activities. This is because human health has been taken care of since the laws ensured the safety of water, air, and land (USEPA, 2017).

The laws generally regulate mining activities which may lead to pollution of the environment. The existing legislation on mining laws, namely the Mining Law of 1872, also failed to include provisions for environmental protection and the Clean Water Act failed to provide regulations on radioactive wastewater disposal. However, a positive outcome from the implementation of the act was never achieved. For example, the Desert Rock Power Plant, that was predicted to create around 600 jobs and generate revenue of $50 million, failed to materialize due to stiff opposition from the localities. For the tribal people, protection of cultural integrity, human health, and environment have greater importance than economic efficiency (Necefer et al, 2015). Research conducted by Necefer et al. (2015) aimed to understand how cultural integrity, human health, tribal sovereignty and environmental issues may influence policy decision making.

Several studies, such as the one by Necepher et al. (2015), emphasize the fact that policy decisions must be made with the intentions of safeguarding the cultural integrity and environment. On-going Initiatives to Clean the Lands of Navajo Nation Community involvement initiatives such as the one by the United States Environmental protection Agency (USEPA) have come a long way in educating the masses of the hazards of uranium exposure. USEPA-appointed Community involvement coordinators organized workshops to alert the public about the impact of mining on the residents and environment of Navajo Nation. The EPA has contributed extensive financial support for investing in de-contamination of the abandoned mines, remediation of contaminated structures, provision of safe drinking water and decontamination of mills and groundwater.

Navajo’s water woes have taken a long time to be addressed and members of the Obama administration blamed the Congress for this delay. The issue of water settlements took a priority when efforts were made by Obama administration’s interior secretary, Ken Salazar, who prioritized the issue for the first time (Fleck, 2010). So far, there have been two five-year plans aimed at reclaiming the lands of Navajo that were initiated at the request of the U. S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Taking, for instance, the air quality act, this act should not only define and implement the permissible air quality but also offer guidance on necessary steps the miners should take to avoid exposure to the contaminated air and the preferred purification strategies when the air is polluted.

My other recommendations are for the Navajo Nation Council to approve laws and policies for all communities that live near abandon uranium mines and mills to be provided free community uranium exposure screening for every home on the Navajo reservation. In addition, the Navajo Nation, state, and the federal government could implement an organization such as medical check-ups on the ones the life near abandon uranium mine to prevent further health illness. Conclusion The study has investigated the general mining process of uranium, identified effects of the uranium mining to the environment, and investigated laws and policies governing uranium mining. The study has discovered that there are several health risks due to uranium mining such as cancer and breathing problems. Once Upon a Mine: The Legacy of Uranium on the Navajo Nation.

Environmental Health Perspectives, 122(2), A44-A49. 33333 Chair, P. L. Read "Uranium Mining in Virginia: Scientific, Technical, Environmental, Human Health and Safety, and Regulatory Aspects of Uranium Mining and Processing in Virginia" at NAP. Water Deal a Milestone for Navajos. UpFront, retrieved from https://www. abqjournal. com/upfront/142147401971upfront12-14-10. htm Accessed on December 16th, 2017. , Taylor, M. , Iles, M. , Kyle, G. , & Sinclair, G. Resolving long-term issues related to surface water management and monitoring associated with the Ranger Uranium Mine, Northern Territory, and Australia. , Johnnye, P. , Douglas, A. , Begay, M. , Ragin-Wilson, A. The Navajo Birth Cohort Study. pdf Accessed on Dec 16, 2017 Lewis, J. , Hoover, J. , Mackenzie, D. Mining and Environmental Health Disparities in Native American Communities. Current Environmental Health Reports, 4(2), 130-141. , Mitchell, J.