COVE, Ariz. — Members of the 25th Navajo Nation Council and the Diné Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission (DURAC) met recently at the Cove Chapter House to review ongoing uranium cleanup efforts across the Navajo Nation, examine new uranium development proposals, and advance recommendations aimed at protecting Diné communities from the long-term impacts of historic uranium mining.
The meeting brought together representatives from federal agencies, tribal departments, and community organizations to provide updates on major remediation projects while commissioners discussed additional policy actions to address environmental health concerns and radiation exposure affecting Navajo communities.
Technical presentations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, the Navajo Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Department, and community organizations highlighted progress on remediation efforts in the Lukachukai Mountain Mining District, the Shiprock Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act Disposal Site, and the Old Church Rock Mine Time Critical Removal Action project.
Officials described engineering strategies designed to isolate radioactive waste, improve groundwater treatment systems, reclaim abandoned uranium mine sites, and reduce long-term environmental and public health risks.
Commissioners also reviewed ongoing consultations regarding the proposed La Jara Mesa uranium mine near Mount Taylor, stressing the need for meaningful tribal consultation, public participation, comprehensive environmental reviews, and protection of culturally significant landscapes before any future uranium development moves forward.
Additional discussions focused on Navajo energy policy, proposed amendments to the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), and continued oversight of uranium remediation efforts throughout the Navajo Nation.
Among those attending the meeting were Navajo Nation Speaker Crystalyne Curley and Council Delegate Curtis Yanito, who reaffirmed the Navajo Nation Council’s commitment to holding federal agencies accountable while ensuring cleanup efforts continue in uranium-impacted communities.
“The Navajo people have lived with the consequences of uranium development for generations,” Curley said. “As we move forward, every cleanup effort must be guided by transparency, scientific integrity, meaningful community engagement, and respect for Diné values. Our responsibility is to ensure that future generations inherit healthier lands than those we received.”
Yanito emphasized that remediation efforts must also address past decisions that affected local families.
“The creation of the uranium waste cell site at Tse Tah in 2012 was done without consent of the family that holds the grazing permit and the approval of Teec Nos Pos Chapter,” Yanito said. “The Navajo Nation bulldozed the site without regard to the affected families. Teec Nos Pos Chapter approved maintenance activities only in April 2011. The Chapter unanimously opposed the construction in August 2012. It is critical that this be properly reviewed and that corrections be made.”
Commission members devoted significant attention to concerns surrounding the Tse Tah Repository Cell and the nearby Tso family homestead.
The commission approved a letter to the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency requesting removal of the repository cell and restoration of the affected homestead, arguing that the repository was built without the family’s consent, has deteriorated over time, and continues to pose environmental and public health risks.
Commissioners also recommended pursuing a Time Critical Removal Action and identifying federal funding opportunities to safely remove the repository while restoring the area for grazing and traditional land use.
Observations from a March 2026 site visit documented homes located within one-quarter mile of the repository, radioactive waste remaining outside the containment area, deteriorating drainage systems, continued livestock access, and concerns about vegetation traditionally used for cultural and medicinal purposes.
The report further noted that previous monitoring recommendations from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory had not been fully implemented. Commissioners recommended designating the repository as a priority site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), allowing for complete removal under federal Superfund authorities.
During the meeting, commissioners questioned federal officials about groundwater monitoring, air quality, climate resilience of remediation infrastructure, transportation of uranium-contaminated materials, repository design, and long-term stewardship of reclaimed sites.
Members also stressed the importance of improving communication with affected chapter communities, providing technical information in the Navajo language, and ensuring traditional ecological knowledge and Diné values remain central to future cleanup planning.
The commission also reviewed a draft resolution supporting amendments to the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, recognizing the continuing need to expand assistance for individuals, families, and communities affected by decades of uranium mining and milling across the Navajo Nation.
The Diné Uranium Remediation Advisory Commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled to be held at Coal Mine Canyon Chapter in the Navajo Nation’s Western Agency in August 2026. The meeting date has not yet been announced.
