Buried mine tailings can lead to water pollution, which is especially devastating to fishing communites. Also, tailings remain potentially harmful long after a mine has been decommissioned, leaving the burden of subsequent environmental problems with the northern communities. The mining of uranium in Saskatchewan puts the pursuit of money at a greater priority than environmental protection and sustainability. Mining in the north takes advantage of the northern residents. They do not have the population or resources to resist the short-term gains offered by large mining companies.
Uranium mining raises the issue of general support for nuclear technology.
Resistance to uranium mining can stem from opposition to Saskatchewan uranium being used in nuclear reactors or weapons. On the local level, groups of northern residents speak to the media, the public, and the government about the impact of uranium mining on their communities. Provincially, there is a group of organisations called the Uranium Coalition. Independent of these organisations is the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. National and international groups such as Northwatch, Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout, and Greenpeace also oppose uranium mining.