Navajo Nation: Cleaning Up Abandoned Uranium Mines

Working with Communities on Cleaning Up Abandoned Uranium Mines

EPA works with communities to keep them informed of cleanup activities which may impact them. Regular community meetings are held to provide updates and get input from local residents about our work to address uranium contamination.

Community Involvement: Addressing Uranium Contamination

EPA provides mine cleanup info to Navajo communityEPA Community Involvement Coordinators work with chapter officials and Navajo Nation representatives to keep community members updated on progress with uranium mine assessment and cleanup. The goals of EPA's community involvement is to give community members updated and understandable information, as well as to ensure that community members can help shape decisions affecting their community.

Community Outreach Network

In 2015, Federal and Navajo agencies formed the Community Outreach Network as part of the Five-Year plan. The Community Outreach Network includes representatives from EPA, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy, the Indian Health Service, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, the Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands/Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Program, and the Navajo Nation Department of Health.

The Community Outreach Network plans and coordinates outreach events to enhance community understanding of the work agencies are doing to address uranium contamination on Navajo Nation. See the community involvement and Five-Year Plan pages for more information. Upcoming events can be found in the events section on this page, and points of contact at EPA and DOE are listed to the right in the Community Contacts box.

Map of Abandoned Uranium Mines on the Navajo NationMap of Abandoned Uranium Mines on the Navajo Nation | Click image for a larger map