Uranium is being mined near the Grand Canyon as prices soar and the US pushes for more nuclear power

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN
Associated Press

The largest uranium producer in the United States is ramping up work at a mine less than 10 miles from the rim of the Grand Canyon. The long-contested project is within the boundaries of what is now a national monument. The work is unfolding as global instability and growing demand drive uranium prices higher. The Biden administration and dozens of other countries have pledged to boost the capacity of nuclear power worldwide as a way to fight climate change, ensuring uranium will be a key commodity for decades more. The market dynamics are good for the industry. Not so for environmentalists and Native American leaders who are concerned about contamination.