Native American Nuclear Resources

Great Essays
Abandoned and active radioactive mining and storage facilities in proximity to Western Native American Lands pose environmental and extreme health risks to Native Americans. In the past governmental agencies have failed to educate Native American people of the dangers of radioactive waste, and have been neglectant in the clean up of many sites. In certain communities such as, Paguate and the Navajo Nation, there is a high prevalence of cancer and various respiratory diseases in residents living near radioactive storage sites. Thus, the U.S government should impose stricter monitoring systems for radioactive mining or storage sites.
The government is responsible for monitoring radioactive storage and mining facilities on Native American tribal lands. Brennaman (2014) states the United States government signed a treaty in 1868 that designated the government as a benefactor for the Navajo Nation. Based upon the 1868 treaty, uranium companies should seek approval from the government and the Navajo Nation before any mining and radioactive storage facilities are built on tribal land (Brennaman, 2012). Until the mid 1970’s, building of storage facilities for radioactive waste occurred on the Navajo Nation without approval from the navajo Nation (Furlow, 2014). Sovacool and Funk (2013) discussed how many of these radioactive facilities are prone to accidents resulting in the leakage of radioactive contaminants. Accidents at storage facilities can occur because of lack of enforcement of proper procedure, and the use of temporary storage sites as permanent facilities (Sovacool & Funk , 2013). According to Burger, Gochfeld and Pletnikoff (2009), many Native American hunting grounds were also often surrounded by large Department of Energy (DOE) storage, testing, or waste sites. These DOE sites increased environmental and health risks to Native Americans because of the leakage of radioactive contaminants into the surrounding environment (Burger, Gochfeld & Pletnikoff, 2009). The U.S government showed neglancy of the failure to provide adequate education and protective gear to Native American miners (Furlow 2014). Furlow (2014) discussed research study investigation for the risks of contracting lung cancer with better ventilation in mines. The study concluded that a better ventilation system significantly reduced the risks of lung cancer in miners (Furlow, 2014). Although the study showed a clear reduction in lung cancer risk, more than a decade passed before the government implemented new ventilation in mines present on the Navajo Nation (Furlow, 2014). Often, the government has failed to monitor the cleanup of abandoned radioactive sites. Furlow (2014) discussed how the declining uranium industry in the 1980’s resulted in the abandonment of many mines on tribal lands. Many of these sites were not continually monitored for the leakage of radioactive materials from storage (Furlow, 2014). Brennaman (2012) discussed the negative effects of these abandoned mines for the Navajo Nation, and argued the federal government “lacked coordination and political will to satisfy the original promise to return the land safely to the Navajo Nation’’ (p. 924). Residents living
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Brennamam (2012) stated that the Bureau of Labor (BOL) did not effectively manage the cleanup of numerous radioactive mines, resulting in environmental contamination on Native American lands. The BOL has a pattern of ignoring health risks of the uranium mines and refuseto provide support, such as health care and payment options to affected Native American families (Brennamam 2012). For example the Jack Pile, was the largest open pit uranium mine in the United States and was located 2000 feet from the Native American village Paguate (Furlow, 2014). Residents of this village were exposed to high levels of radiation and toxic chemicals from the remaining radioactive waste piles (Furlow, 2014). Shockingly, Furlow (2014) states that Native American children played in the waste piles, Paguate residents drank contaminated water, and livestock grazed on toxic waste. Diseases such as kidney disease, autoimmune disease, various cancers, and hypertension disease were common ailments of village residents probably caused by exposure to radioactive waste (Furlow, 2014). Because the U.S federal government in indirectly responsible for the environmental contamination on Native American lands, the U.S government needs to provide more support to Native American families. Support could include better education about risks of radiation, health care for affected families, increased professional medical personnel in Native American Villages and biomonitoring to ensure safe levels of

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