Utah crews remove 17 million tons of radioactive waste from Colorado River site

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. Although the tailings do not resemble the bright yellow uranium compounds often shown in popular culture, they can contain radioactive materials and other contaminants that require long-term management. The former Moab uranium mill operated near the Colorado River, an important waterway that supplies communities, supports agriculture and carries water through s...