Utah removes 17 million tons of radioactive waste from beside Colorado River
The U.S. Department of Energy has successfully removed 17 million tons of radioactive uranium mill tailings from the banks of the Colorado River in Utah. The project, which began in 2009, aims to prevent environmental contamination of a critical water source.
Why it matters
This cleanup is a major environmental milestone, protecting the Colorado River ecosystem from long-term radioactive hazards left over from Cold War-era uranium processing.
For decades, millions of tons of uranium mill tailings sat beside the Colorado River near Moab, Utah, leaving behind a major environmental cleanup challenge in a landscape known for its red rock scenery and tourism. The waste came from a uranium processing site that operated during the Cold War era, and concerns grew over contamination near the river. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, crews began transporting the tailings by rail in 2009 to an engineered disposal cell about 30 miles away in Crescent Junction. In September 2026, the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project marked a major milestone: 17 million tons had been removed from the riverbanks.How the waste reached the riverbankThe material left near Moab was uranium mill tailings, the sand-like waste produced after uranium-bearing ore is processed.
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