Exploring an abandoned uranium mine on Yellow Cat Mesa, near Moab, Utah.

This area was mined beginning in the 1940s, as part of the post-WW2 uranium boom. Most of these mines are abandoned now, since demand fell off as the Cold War came to an end.

The mess is still there, though. The big tailings pile here beside the crumbling mine structure is still fairly radioactive. And there are no signs or warnings anywhere. A campground fire ring was set up just a few steps away from the pile, meaning that people are recreationally camping next to this big pile of radioactive tailings. If you didn't know that it was a uranium mine or didn't have a geiger counter, you'd never know the danger.

Granted, this isn't dangerous just to stand near. Uranium ore emits mostly alpha radiation. But if you say... stirred up the dust and breathed it in or cooked a meal next to it and got the dust in that... well, ingesting those particles could lead to adverse health effects. There REALLY ought to be a warning somewhere.

Excerpt from this press release from the Center for Biological Diversity:

Conservation groups joined the Havasupai Tribe today to denounce the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality’s approval of a key permit for a uranium mine near Grand Canyon’s South Rim. On Friday the Tribe sent a letter to Arizona officials reasserting its opposition to the mine and calling for new hydrological studies, regular meetings and monitoring data for the Pinyon Plain Mine.

“Our identity as a people is intrinsically intertwined with the health of Havasu Creek and the environment to which it gives life. We use this water for drinking, gardening and irrigating, municipal uses, and cultural and religious uses,” the Tribe’s letter said. “If the water source becomes contaminated like we have seen in other areas of Arizona due to uranium mining, we will no longer be able to live in our homes and Supai Village will become extinct.”

The mine, owned by Energy Fuels Resources, has a history of flooding as it drains shallow groundwater aquifers that flow into South Rim springs. The mine also threatens to contaminate deep aquifers that feed Havasu Creek and other Grand Canyon springs.

“State regulators are bowing to the uranium industry while risking irretrievable harm to groundwater feeding Havasu and other Grand Canyon springs,” said Taylor McKinnon at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Charging forward amidst dangerous scientific uncertainty threatens human rights and makes the Grand Canyon state the Grand Canyon’s worst enemy. Mine remediation and closure remains the only safe option.”

Uranium Mines and Mills

Uranium Mines and Mills in India State Uranium Mine Uranium Mill Operate year Jharkhand Jaduguda Jaduguda 1967(Mine)/1968(Mill) Jharkhand Bhatin Jaduguda 1967 Jharkhand Narwapahar Jaduguda 1995 Jharkhand Bagjata Jaduguda 2008 Jharkhand, East Singhbum Dt Turamdih Turamdih 2003(Mine)/2008(Mill) Jharkhand, East Singhbum Dt Banduhurang Turamdih 2007 Jharkhand, East Singhbum Dt Mohuldih Turamdih 2012…