EPA Begins Uranium Mine Waste Cleanup on Navajo Nation
The Environmental Protection Agency has started a yearlong project to remove and contain uranium-contaminated waste rock from the Lukachukai Mining District Superfund Site in northeastern Arizona.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- November 04, 2025
The EPA has begun cleanup work at the Lukachukai Mining District Superfund Site on the Navajo Nation, where uranium mining left decades of contamination.
The agency said crews will remove thousands of cubic yards of uranium-contaminated waste rock from the Mesa V complex and place it in a newly built engineered repository designed to prevent further erosion or groundwater contamination. The project is expected to take about a year to complete.
Officials said the area is used for grazing and other activities by Navajo families, and the cleanup will help reduce risks from exposure to radioactive materials. Following removal and containment of the waste, the site will be restored with native vegetation.
The EPA said the project reflects its ongoing commitment to address legacy uranium contamination across tribal lands in the Southwest.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for EPOnline.