by Angela Kleiber, Utah Sierra Club Chapter Volunteer
Recently, I visited southeastern Utah with some new friends and explored the stunning landscapes of Green River, Moab, the La Sal Mountains, Blanding, and White Mesa. This region, a gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, is also home to the Bears Ears and Natural Bridges National Monuments, with ancient cliff dwellings, rock art, and burial sites sacred to multiple Indigenous tribes. We hiked among rock formations, marveled at the unique petals of blooming desert flowers, and were captivated by a committee of vultures perched on a cliffside tree. We paused to appreciate the view and noticed small radioactive warning signs, affixed to fences that seemed more symbolic than protective. Here amidst all this rich history and natural wonder lies the White Mesa Mill—the only active uranium mill in the United States.
Photo by Kat Hickey
Our group, part of the Indigenous Solidarity team of the Utah Sierra Club's Conservation Committee, went on this trip to learn more about the mill, and the White Mesa Ute Mountain Ute tribal community who have fought for generations to protect their home from the mill’s negative effects. As a physician, I was particularly concerned about the health impact on the local people.
The White Mesa Mill was originally built in the 70s to process uranium ore found in rocks. Once primarily used by the defense industry, uranium is now used for nuclear reactors to produce electricity and also to produce isotopes for medical and industrial purposes. The mill also extracts vanadium, used in production of steel and batteries. Mines throughout the U.S. still send their ore to the mill for processing, but now in addition to ore, waste material is sent here for processing. The mill reclaims small amounts of uranium from the material and classifies this as “recycling,” bypassing proper licensure for what is effectively being used as a waste disposal site. Radioactive toxic waste has been accepted into the mill from superfund sites throughout the U.S., as well as internationally from Canada, Estonia, and Japan. (See Half Life: The Story of America's Last Uranium Mill and White Mesa Mill Story for more information.)
White Mesa, a small community on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation, lies just a few miles south of the mill. While there, we met Yolanda Badback, a leader in the community whose family has long advocated against the mill. As we drove around with Yolanda, she shared how her family has been personally affected by the mill. Her grandmother used to collect sumac near a canyon to make baskets, but waste leaked into the canyon and the pond dried up. Trucks carry waste along the road that children use to get to school, but the community is not always informed when hazardous materials are transported, or when they spill. Yolanda recounted how a chemical spill on the road was set on fire rather than properly cleaned up. The community notices bad odors from the mill and they worry about the dust that blows from there on windy days. They worry about radon exposure - the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers - and wonder what in the air is causing their high rates of asthma. They worry about what is in their tap water. Heavy metal contamination has already been detected in shallow groundwater sources near White Mesa, and the community is concerned about potential contamination of the Navajo Aquifer deeper underground, which is their primary source of drinking water. They worry about what is in the meat they eat, as cattle from Blanding roam near the mill, and other animals have been seen drinking from the waste ponds. The mill does offer some economic benefit to workers in an area with limited employment options, though Yolanda doesn't know anyone from White Mesa who works there. Her advocacy has cost her friendships in nearby Blanding - another casualty of living near the mill.
There is a history of Indigenous communities bearing the brunt of pollution from mining; ninety percent of all uranium mining in the U.S. has been done on or near reservations. Some of the waste sent to White Mesa is actually the result of clean-up of toxic sites on other reservations. The Navajo Nation in New Mexico was particularly affected when that area was heavily mined for uranium from the 1950s to the 1970s. The largest radioactive spill in the U.S. occurred on Navajo lands in 1979. The cleanup is still ongoing, and multiple radioactive waste sites and abandoned mine sites remain throughout the area. From there we get a hint of some of the health effects of living in this toxic environment - higher rates of cancer, kidney and cardiovascular disease, and birth defects are seen in the surrounding areas. There is a relative lack of comprehensive studies on the effects of chronic uranium exposure, but what studies have shown is that people living near abandoned uranium mines have higher risk for respiratory illness, cancer and kidney failure; there may also be a link to endocrine disorders. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is currently conducting their own epidemiological study to better understand how the mill may be affecting their health.
The constant fear and stress of living near the mill, coupled with the loss of control over their ancestral lands, negatively impacts the community's health. Tribal members have abandoned traditional activities like hunting, collecting plants and herbs, and using willow branches to weave baskets due to fear of possible contamination. They no longer collect sagebrush and other plants and herbs that once were used for tea and medicinal purposes from the area. Children can’t play outdoors because of concern for possible toxins. Lack of outdoor activity is likely to worsen physical and mental health, especially as childhood obesity and diabetes are already prevalent. It is ironic that in a place so renowned for outdoor activities, the Native population can no longer feel safe recreating in their own backyards.
Visiting White Mesa reminds us of the vast beauty and culture of Utah, and underscores the urgency of addressing its environmental and social justice issues. As visitors we can raise awareness, but the community bears the daily burden so it is crucial to support their efforts and listen to their concerns. When asked what she hoped to get from the mill aside from closure and clean-up of the site, Yolanda said health and life insurance, especially for the children so that they have hope for the future.
To protest the mill and demonstrate support for each other, the community holds an annual spiritual walk from their community center to the gates of the mill. The next walk is scheduled for October 12, 2024. On October 4, they are also planning a rally in Salt Lake City to urge political leaders and regulators to stop allowing White Mesa to be used as a dumping ground. As the community continues its fight, they need allies to help advocate for their health, heritage, and future.