Where does the uranium from Pinyon Plain mine get hauled?

Trucks transporting uranium ore began from the Pinyon Plain mine to the White Mesa uranium mill on February 12th. Embarking on a roughly 320 mile journey,  the trucks drive along busy roads, often with little more than a tarp holding in the ore. The hauling route takes the uranium through national forests, campsites, communities, and more.

What is the route? 

The trucks leaving the Pinyon Plain mine begin their journey in the Kaibab National Forest, roughly 10 miles South of the Grand Canyon. From the mine, trucks drive over dirt forest roads, finally meeting up with State Route 64. The uranium ore then makes its way south out from the national forest, passing Red Butte Mountain and small towns such as Grand Canyon Junction and Red Lake before making its way East along Interstate 40. Trucks continue through Flagstaff, cutting just beneath Northern Arizona University. From there, they take US highway 89 to US highway 160, and finally up into Utah to unload at the White Mesa uranium mill.

Kaibab National Forest to Flagstaff

Dispersed along the roughly 300 mile route are various forests, lakes, streams, and ecosystems. As the trucks leave the Kaibab National Forest, they pass Red Butte Mountain, a beautiful and sacred site. The Havasupai people have protested the mine’s proximity to the site, and fears have only grown since hauling began. 

As the trucks begin heading east along Interstate 40, they pass Kaibab Lake–a popular fishing and camping destination. The lake is also frequented by bald eagles. The water sits roughly 30 feet from the interstate, placing it at risk of contamination were a truck to overturn. Leaving Kaibab Lake the trucks continue east, passing by mountains, outdoor attractions, and forests. 

Heading northeast along US highway 89 after Flagstaff, it enters the Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve. The preserve is a dedicated “watchable wildlife area” due to its diverse and thriving ecosystems. The designation accompanies healthy populations of bald eagles, bats, and elk, as well as the accompanying hikers and school groups. The site is also home to ruins and petroglyphs roughly a thousand years old. An overturned or broken down truck, an errant tarp cover, or any other unforeseen catastrophe could expose this preserve to radioactive contamination. The preserve, the plants and animals, the water, and its visitors are at risk each time a truck passes through. 

Flagstaff to Tuba City

The hauling route leaves Flagstaff on US highway 89 towards Tuba City, AZ. Prior to its entry into the Navajo Nation, it passes the Sunset Crater Volcano, a popular hiking destination that sees an average of 165,000 visitors per year. Continuing north, the trucks pass through the western tip of the popular Wupatki National Monument, the site of an ancient indigenous cultural center. These sites are frequented by thousands of tourists a year who, unbeknownst to them, will now share these sites with trucks hauling uranium ore. 

Leaving the Wupatki National Monument, the trucks enter the Navajo Nation and begin northeast along US highway 160. The Trucks drive through Tuba City, along a highway bordering the Hopi reservation. While the Navajo Nation signed a hauling agreement with Energy Fuels (the company behind the Pinyon Plain mine), the Hopi did not. 

Risky 160

As it leaves Tuba City, the uranium ore enters one of the most hazardous stretches of its journey–US highway 160. A report from the Grand Canyon Trust found that due to factors such as poor road conditions, unpredictable weather, and wandering livestock, US highway 160 experiences fatal automobile accidents at a rate 2.4 to 7 times higher than the national average.  Compounding the issue, the highway’s rurality means that emergency response times are longer than usual–a problem considering that the emergency may involve spilled uranium ore. 

While this stretch of the route is largely removed from populated areas, it does pass through small towns and scenic stops. One such stop is Tsegi Canyon, which is where the trucks begin driving alongside Laguña Creek, eventually crossing it past Dennehotso. Further up the highway it crosses another waterway, the Chinle Creek. These streams, while small, are able to support plant and animal populations in an otherwise arid landscape. Contamination of these areas could have significant effects on Arizona ecosystems. 

The last leg–the White Mesa Uranium Mill

The trucks leave Arizona and the Navajo Nation along Highway 191. The uranium crosses over the San Juan River, a tributary of the Colorado River. Additionally, this section of the San Juan contains the Sand Island Recreation Area, a site popular for its camping, recreation, and petroglyphs. Following alongside the San Juan, the trucks drive through the town of Bluff, a growing hub for travelers and tourists. 

Leaving Bluff, the ore crosses into White Mesa, a town within the Ute Mountain Reservation. The trucks bisect the town, finally reaching their destination at the White Mesa Uranium Mill–roughly five miles from the town itself. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have opposed the milling of uranium in and around White Mesa, and the recent resumption of uranium hauling have only exacerbated their concerns. 

A Constant Risk

As many as 10 trucks per day could be sent from the Pinyon Plain mine to the White Mesa uranium mill, each capable of carrying 24 tons of ore. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of radioactive ore have the potential to travel through dozens of towns, protected lands, waterways, and cultural sites–endangering the people, plants, and animals that exist there.