The White Mesa Mill in southeastern Utah, the nation’s sole remaining conventional uranium mill, has become a focal point of tension between the nation’s nuclear energy expansion efforts and concerns from Indigenous communities regarding radioactive contamination.
The facility, built in 1980 near Bears Ears National Monument, processes uranium ore into yellowcake for nuclear power fuel and also handles radioactive waste from international sources. Production has accelerated significantly in recent years, with the mill producing 1 million pounds of yellowcake last year and planning to more than double that output this year. Approximately 10 to 15 trucks carrying uranium ore now arrive at the mill on weekdays. The facility has also expanded into processing rare earth elements with federal support, receiving a $725 million conditional loan commitment from the Defense Department.
This expansion coincides with federal policy shifts prioritizing domestic uranium production. A 2024 federal law bans Russian uranium imports by 2028, while recent administration directives aim to quadruple U.S. nuclear energy capacity by 2050 and expedite mining approvals on federal lands. The shift reflects growing interest in nuclear power as a low-carbon energy source amid rising data center demands and increasing electricity consumption.
The accelerated production has intensified longstanding concerns among the White Mesa Ute Community, which has approximately 200 members living about 5 miles south of the facility. Tribal residents report concerns about potential groundwater contamination, citing the region’s uranium mining history and the mill’s radioactive waste storage in five tailings cells occupying 284 acres. Some residents avoid drinking tap water due to taste and appearance issues, relying instead on bottled water. The mill plans to expand its waste storage capacity with new tailings cells located closer to the community, intensifying opposition efforts.
State regulators and mill officials maintain that operations comply with environmental standards and pose no health risk to nearby residents. Recent federal health assessments found radiation levels unlikely to cause harm, and testing shows uranium concentrations at monitored springs within federal drinking water standards, though elevated in some cases. However, tribal leaders and residents remain skeptical, citing historical uranium mining impacts on Indigenous populations and requesting enhanced air and water monitoring closer to the facility.
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