Thread by @EricLiptonNYT

MINING THREAD PART 3: Let's turn to South Dakota's famed Black Hills and the land of near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. A MASSIVE uranium mine is planned, in part on federal land. But here is the rub. All of this territory is still claimed by Sioux Nation of Indians

The Canadian-based mine developer, Azarga Uranium, just got approve from Trump-era EPA to inject a chemical called lixiviant via so-called Deep Injection Wells into underground water supply to force uranium to leach into the water.

Here is a critical EPA document that looks at the damage this project will do to groundwater in the area. Read it yourself. EPA, based on consultant study, argues harm will be in Uranium ore area, not drinking water area. Tribe is not convinced. epa.gov/sites/producti…

The local Oglala Sioux Tribe/Oglala Lakota Nation is strongly opposed to this project, concerned that it could contaminate their drinking water supply. Most of all, they consider this their land. The US government took it. They don't want a uranium mine. They have sued to stop it

The United States imports most of the uranium used at nuclear power plants. Trump EPA has give it final approval. Interior's Bureau of Land Management still needs to act. Choices. Consequences. Costs.

Here again is the NYT story just published that discusses this and other mine projects Trump administration is moving ahead. Please read this story and share it. Obviously a lot of work involved here. Readers are important. nytimes.com/2020/12/19/us/…