Environmental groups sue to prevent uranium mine near Grand Canyon from opening

Groups file suit to stop Grand Canyon uranium mine

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Environmental groups are suing the federal Bureau of Land Management over its decision to allow a uranium mine to reopen north of the Grand Canyon.

Canadian mining firm Denison Mines Corp. received the final state permit needed to move forward on its Arizona 1 Mine in September. The BLM says Denison has an approved mine plan and should be allowed to resume operations.

The Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust and the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit Monday. They argue that the mine plan has expired, an environmental analysis is outdated and Denison has not proven its claims.

The mine is about 20 miles from the canyon’s northern border. Denison plans to mine nearly 110,000 tons of uranium ore from the site over 10 years.