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At long last, cleanup begins on uranium contaminated Navajo land

…The Navajo have borne a deeply unfair burden. Four million tons of uranium have been pulled from beneath their land in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, mostly for use in nuclear weapons. Federal compensation for miners can’t make up for the disease they now suffer.

The Tribune story continues:

The task is not an easy one. The agency, undertaking the “emergency cleanup” as an interim solution until the Navajo Nation decides on a permanent one, has a half-century of local distrust to deal with along with the practical challenges of eliminating the uranium hazard.

… The $6 million cleanup work here is part of EPA’s plan to address uranium problems all over the reservation. About $22 million is dedicated to building alternative water systems. Another $60 million over five years will go toward identifying and dealing with contaminated homes and mine sites……..he Navajo have borne a deeply unfair burden. Four million tons of uranium have been pulled from beneath their land in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, mostly for use in nuclear weapons. Federal compensation for miners can’t make up for the disease they now suffer. A Salt Lake Tribune editorial earlier this year summarized the significance of the cleanup:….

…The Navajo have borne a deeply unfair burden. Four million tons of uranium have been pulled from beneath their land in Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, mostly for use in nuclear weapons. Federal compensation for miners can’t make up for the disease they now suffer. A Salt Lake Tribune editorial earlier this year summarized the significance of the cleanup:

Uranium cleanup begins on Navajo Nation — High Country News

May 26, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general