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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC-2020-021663 - 0901a06880ef6077The Legislative Branch The Navajo Nation RESOLUTION OF THE NAVAJO UTAH COMMISSION OF THE NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL Seth Damon Speaker of the 24th Navajo Nation Council OPPOSING IMPORTATION OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE FROM THE COUNTRY OF ESTONIAN IN EASTERN EUROPE INTO THE WHITE MESA MILL NEAR BLANDING, UT AH. NUCJUN-821-20 WHEREAS: 1. The Navajo Utah Commission (NUC) is a governmental subdivision of the Navajo Nation and is subject to oversight of the Navaj o Nation Council -Naabik'iya'ti ' Committee pursuant to Resolution No. NABIAP-21-15; and 2. The Navajo Nation has a government-to-government relationship with the United States of America, as per the Treaty of 1868, June 1, 1868, 15 Stat. 667, and its political status as a federally recognized tribe; and 3. The Navajo Nation and its citizens recogni ze the importance of the protection of sacred, historic, and important places to Indigenous Peoples; and 4. The Dine Bi Beehaz 'aanii Bitse Silei, the declaration of the foundation of Dine law, predates the formation and establishment of the U.S. Constitution; and 5. The Dine Bi Beehaz 'aanii Bitse Silef (Law) embodies Diyin bitsaadee beeha 'cianii (Traditional Law), Diyin Dine bitsaadee beehaz 'aanii (Customary Law), and Nahookaa Dine bi beehaz 'cianii (Common Law), which provides sanctuary for the Dine life and culture, our relationship with the world beyond the sacred mountains, and the balance we maintain with the natural world; and 6. These Fundamental Laws of the Dine have been codified in Title I of the Navajo Nation Code; and 7. The Navajo Nation and the Navajo Utah Commission are deeply committed to the protection of Indigenous sacred lands, cultural resources, and Native people; and 8. The Navajo Utah Commission recognize that the White Mesa community is located directly adjacent to the White Mesa Mill on Ute Mountain Ute reservation lands; and Navajo Uta h Commission • P.O. Box 570 • Montezuma Creek, Utah 84534 Phone: 435-651-3508 • Fax: 435-651-3511 Page02of02 Resolution NUCJUN-821-20 9. The Navajo Nation and the Navajo Utah Commission are committed to making decisions that are in line with the Dine Bi Beehaz 'aanii Bitse Silei, which encompasses Diyin bitsaadee beeha 'aanii, and not only looks at the present, but the past and future well-being of the Dine people; and 10. Energy Fuels Resources submitted an application to the Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control in April 2020 to allow the White Mesa Uranium Mill to accept radioactive material from Easter Europe; and 11. Energy Fuels Resources intends to extract uranium from the residual material to produce fuel rods for nuclear power plants; and 12. The Utah Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control is accepting comments until July 10th, 2020 at dwmrcpublic@utah.gov; and 13. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, a sovereign nation whose lands the mill sits upon is opposed to Energy Fuels accepting this waste; and 14. Local community members have concerns about the lack of oversight, safety, and contamination of local groundwater resources on and around the White Mesa Mill. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: 1. The Navajo Utah Commission is hereby opposing importation of radioactive waste from the country of Estonia in Eastern Europe into the White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah. CERTIFICATION We, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered by Navajo Utah Commission at a duly called meeting by teleconference at which a quorum was present and the same was passed by a vote of .4 in favor, .Q opposed, and l abstention, this 23rd day of June·2020. MOTION: SECOND: Herman Farley Henry Stevens, Jr. Chair not voting k;;= 3 Kenneth Mary boy, Chairperson NAVAJO UTAH COMMISSION