Location: Church Rock, Crownpoint
Opposing Parties: Hydro Resources Inc.
Initiation Date: September 1996
Status: On-going
Clients/Partners: Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM) and the Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC)
Attorneys: Eric Jantz
Issues:
Two decades ago, Crownpoint resident Mitchell Capitan worked as a groundwater technician for the MobilOil pilot-scale in-situ leach (ISL) uranium mine near his home. He saw first-hand, month after month, that MobilOil could not clean up the water that it polluted with the process. (Go to case files)
When he learned that Hydro Resources, Inc. sought to open a new ISL mine near his home, he organized his neighbors into the Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM – see videos below from two ENDAUM members). Two years later, in 1996, they approached the New Mexico Environmental Law Center for legal assistance. We have represented ENDAUM ever since.
It’s been an historic case, with work at the local, state, national and international levels. The stakes are high: the Westwater Canyon Aquifer currently supplies approximately 15,000 residents of the Eastern Agency of the Navajo Nation. In addition, the tribal water planners declared that the aquifer will be an important future source of water to meet growing demands in the future. The mines and processing plant would also add radioactive air emissions to an airshed that already exceeds federal air quality standards for radiation.
If these mines succeed in opening, it will send a chilling message to communities near uranium ore: uranium is worth more than your water…more than your air…more than you and your neighbors.
At Stake:
Millions of gallons of potential drinking water.
“It’s not over.” 13 years fighting uranium mining in NM.
DreamingNewMexico, Oct 10 2008
Precedents:
The petition filed with the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights is the first time the NRC has ever been called out on human rights violations
Latest News:
08/06/2012 - NMELC sends letter to EPA Acting Administrator Coleman regarding aquifer exemption issued to Hydro Resources, Inc. for Church Rock Section 8.
03/08/2012 - Arguments heard on Summary Judgement. Judge decides not to rule on the merits of case because the case is not ripe yet.
10/11/2011 - ENDAUM requests hearing on motion for summary judgment.
09/01/2011 - ENDAUM requests judgment that the NMED has no authority to accept HRI’s application as a discharge permit renewal.
07/15/2011 - NMELC files Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction and supporting documents for client, ENDAUM.
06/27/2011 - On behalf of ENDAUM, NMELC filed a letter demanding New Mexico Environment Department issue a notice to HRI that their discharge permit has not been renewed based on documents obtained that show high-ranking employees of the NMED have been improperly influencing regulatory decisions of the Groundwater Quality Bureau.
05/13/2011 - NMELC files a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights seeking to halt a uranium mining operation in the Navajo villages of Church Rock and Crownpoint, N.M
11/15/2010 - U.S. Supreme Court denies review of decision to allow in situ leach (ISL) uranium mining in the Church Rock and Crownpoint communities.
09/15/2010 - NMELC files an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision to allow in situ leach (ISL) uranium mining in the Church Rock and Crownpoint communities.
05/18/2010 - The 10th Federal Circuit Appeals Court denies request for En Banc Rehearing.
04/22/2010 - NMELC files Petition for Panel or En Banc Rehearing to the 10th Federal Circuit Appeals Court.
03/08/2010 - The 10th Federal Circuit Appeals Court in Denver, CO returned with their decision upholding the NRC license allowing HRI to mine for uranium in Crownpoint’s municipal water supply.
05/12/2008 - Oral arguments are heard in 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, CO. Currently we are waiting to hear judges decision.
Case Files:
08/06/2012 - Letter to EPA Acting Administrator Coleman regarding Aquifer Exemption
10/11/2011 - Plaintiff’s Request for Hearing on Motion for Summary Judgement.
09/01/2011 - Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgement.
07/15/2011 - Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction, Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief - Statement of the Case and Plaintiff’s Memorandum in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction.
06/27/2011 - Demand Letter sent to NMED regarding HRI’s expired discharge permit.
05/13/2011 - ENDAUM’s Petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in PDF format. Addenda 1 through 3. Addendum 4, Addendum 5, Addendum 6 and Addendum 7.
THIS FILING OFFERS ONE OF THE BEST IN-DEPTH SYNOPSES OF THE CROWNPOINT URANIUM CASE TO DATE. Read documents online:
09/15/2010 - Filed Petition for Certiorari—Morris v NRC
05/18/2010 - 10th Circuit Court Order Denying En Banc Rehearing
04/22/2010 - Petitioners’ Petition for Panel or En Banc Rehearing
03/08/2010 - Federal 10th Circuit Appeals Court Opinion. Judge Carlos F. Lucero’s dissent.
11/05/2007 - Petitioner’s Reply Brief
06/22/2007 - Petitioner’s Opening Brief
