Native communities in northwest New Mexico are worried about the potential impact of resuming uranium mining on Mount Taylor, a mountain of deep cultural and spiritual significance to several Indigenous tribes. The New Mexico state government designated Mount Taylor as a traditional cultural property nearly 20 years ago, recognizing its importance to the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and the pueblos of Laguna, Acoma, and Zuni. June Lorenzo, a former tribal court judge and advocate, explained that the mountain is woven into the tribes' language and creation stories. This designation came after a legal battle in the late 2000s by the five tribes to protect the area from mining. The state eventually protected 400,000 acres as a traditional cultural property. Although some critics accused the tribes of trying to gain land through this process, Lorenzo clarified that the designation does not change land ownership. Two proposed underground uranium mines, Roca Honda and La Jara Mesa, are located within the protected area. Senator Jeff Steinborn, a Democrat from Las Cruces, has raised questions with state regulators about whether permits can be denied due to concerns over cultural sites. David "D.J." Ennis, program manager for the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Mining Act Reclamation Program, said the department is working with the U.S. Forest Service to assess the situation. Energy Fuels, the leading U.S. uranium producer, plans to use dewatering well pads and ventilation shafts on about 30 acres of the protected land. In response to tribal concerns, the company revised its plan to reduce the impact on the area, removing a proposed mine shaft. Steinborn has expressed concerns about the potential damage to cultural sites, environmental effects, and worker safety. Senator Angel Charley, a Democrat from Laguna Pueblo who grew up in Acoma Pueblo, highlighted the Trump administration's attempt to weaken Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This section requires federal agencies to consider the impact of their projects on historic properties. Misael Cabrera, senior vice president of regulatory affairs at Energy Fuels, addressed these concerns, emphasizing the company's commitment to being good neighbors. He pointed to a recent agreement with the Navajo Nation, signed in January 2025, which allows Energy Fuels to transport uranium ore across Navajo lands. In exchange, the company agreed to provide more protections than required by law and to remove up to 10,000 tons of waste from abandoned uranium mines on Navajo land. This agreement followed criticism from the Navajo Nation and the Havasupai Tribe in 2024, who condemned Energy Fuels for moving ore across their lands without permission.