Major Cleanup Initiative Begins at Uranium Mines in Navajo Nation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has embarked on a significant cleanup operation targeting uranium mine waste in the Lukachukai Mountains, situated near the Four Corners on the Navajo Nation. This initiative marks a pivotal step in addressing the environmental and health concerns associated with the site.
With a budget of $13 million, the project is concentrated on a Superfund site in Cove, Arizona, within the Mesa V complex, which encompasses three decommissioned mines. “Removing mine waste at this Superfund site is a significant milestone in EPA’s work to clean up uranium contamination on the Navajo Nation,” stated Michael Montgomery, EPA Pacific Southwest Region Superfund Director. “This action follows the cleanup completed earlier this fall at the nearby Cove Transfer Stations and shows EPA’s continued commitment to protecting human health and the environment of the Navajo people.”
The Cove community is home to over 30 abandoned uranium mines, operated from the 1940s to the 1980s by the Kerr-McGee Corporation. These sites were included in a $1 billion legal settlement in 2014, aimed at probing and decontaminating about 50 abandoned mines across the region.
Arrowhead Contracting, a company owned by the Southern Ute Tribe, has been tasked with managing the cleanup of 13,000 cubic yards of mine waste at the Mesa V site under the watchful eye of the EPA. The Cove area holds cultural significance for local residents and serves as a location for livestock grazing, recreation, and hunting.
EPA representatives emphasize that without intervention, uranium waste would continue to seep into drainages, potentially contaminating the Cove watershed. To mitigate this threat, the agency plans to construct an on-site repository designed to securely contain the waste. This structure will include an “evapotranspiration cap” to provide permanent coverage and prevent rainwater infiltration.
Upon completion of the initial cleanup phase, contractors will work to restore the landscape using native vegetation. The EPA anticipates that the entire project will span approximately one year.
The Navajo Nation and its surrounding areas are burdened with over 500 known abandoned uranium mines. For decades, these sites have been linked to cancer and other severe health issues within local communities.
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